ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement to lift sanctions on Syria, expressing hope that the move will contribute to regional stability and ease the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.
In a statement released late Tuesday, Iraq’s foreign ministry said it “welcomes the announcement by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, of his intention to lift the sanctions imposed on the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic.”
The ministry voiced optimism that the decision “will contribute to supporting the path of stability sought by the Syrian people and ending their prolonged suffering caused by the humanitarian and economic crisis.”
Trump made the announcement earlier on Tuesday during a speech in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on a regional tour that also includes the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump declared, signaling a shift in US policy toward Damascus.
Earlier that day, a White House official confirmed that Trump is expected to “say hello” to Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on background to reporters, including Rudaw’s correspondent, the official stated that “President [Trump] has agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow [Wednesday].” No further details were provided.
Iraq also praised Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts on Tuesday, stating, “The intensive diplomatic efforts exerted by the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have played a key role in supporting the Syrian people and reaching this initiative.”
Baghdad expressed hope that the development would “mark the beginning of a new phase of international cooperation to end the Syrian crisis, through supporting comprehensive peaceful solutions that preserve Syria’s unity and sovereignty and ensure the rights of all components of the Syrian people.”
The ministry underscored the importance of Arab solidarity at this “critical stage,” reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among “brotherly countries” and calling for a unified front to “combat terrorism in all its forms and prevent its spread.”
On December 8, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), then commanded by Sharaa, ousted the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was appointed interim president in late January.
Since taking power, the new leadership in Damascus has repeatedly called on the international community to lift Assad-era sanctions, arguing that they are hindering the country’s economic recovery and post-war reconstruction.
For its part, the US had issued a six-month sanctions exemption to facilitate humanitarian aid, though Syrian officials have said the move had limited effect.
In March, Washington presented Damascus with a list of eight conditions for potential sanctions relief. These included the destruction of any remaining Assad-era chemical weapons and guarantees that no foreign nationals would hold senior positions in the new government.
Speaking to Rudaw on Saturday, Syrian Economy Minister Mohammed Nidal al-Shaar notably anticipated stating that the international sanctions issue “will be resolved in the near future.”
