Trump to lift Syria sanctions, warns Iran, eyes Gaza deal
6 Min Read
From Saudi Arabia, the US president discusses efforts to end the war on Gaza and expand the "Abraham Accords".
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President Donald Trump speaks at the Saudi-US Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, a hardline stance on Iran, and new efforts to end the war in Gaza during an investment forum in Saudi Arabia.
Trump made his announcements during the Saudi-US Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, which is part of his four-day Middle East tour aimed at securing trillions in investments for the US and includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump ends Syria sanctions after Saudi push
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria following a request from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, amid rising tensions in the war-ravaged country.
Trump described the sanctions on Syria as "brutal and crippling," arguing that they had outlived their purpose, before announcing the decision to lift them entirely.
"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," he affirmed.
"Now, it’s their time to shine, we’re taking them all off," Trump announced during an investment forum in Riyadh, offering his encouragement, saying, "So I say, Good luck Syria, show us something very special, like they’ve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia."
Trump lifts sanctions with no guarantees on safeguarding minorities
The United States initially imposed stringent sanctions on Syria under Bashar al-Assad's regime and maintained them even after his ouster in December, following over 13 years of war on the country.
Previously, the Trump administration emphasized that Syria must demonstrate progress on critical issues such as minority protections and safeguarding minority rights before Washington would consider lifting its sanctions.
A US official stated that President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold at least a short meeting with Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
A White House official, speaking anonymously on Tuesday, confirmed that "the president agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow," despite concerns from "Israel" about Syria's trajectory.
"Israel" conducted military strikes against Syria both before and after the December ouster of Bashar al-Assad.
'Pivotal turning point'
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Assaad al-Shibani, hailed Trump's announcement to lift sanctions on Syria as a significant development, describing it to the Syrian News Agency SANA as a "pivotal turning point for the Syrian people, as we move towards a future of stability, self-sufficiency and genuine reconstruction after years of destructive war."
Al-Shibani echoed his statements in a post on X, calling Trump's decision a "new start" in the reconstruction of Syria.
In an interview for Reuters, the Syrian foreign minister said US President Trump could get a historic peace deal and a "victory for US interests in Syria."
Trump threatens Tehran with 'massive maximum pressure'
In the same forum, US President Donald Trump took a swing at Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of being the "most destructive force" in the Middle East and putting the blame on the country for the instability across the region.
Presenting what he framed as both a last caution and an opportunity for dialogue, Trump stated that Iran faces a decision between persisting with what he called "chaos and terror" or pursuing a peaceful path forward.
However, the US president seems to have forgotten or simply just ignored facts highlighted by many observers and analysts who point to "Israel’s" decades-long military occupation, repeated assaults on Gaza, and destabilizing actions in neighboring countries, such as Lebanon and Syria, as enduring and visible sources of violence and unrest in the region.
"Israel’s" recent aggressions across the region have killed thousands of civilians, displaced entire communities, and violated international law, which brings into question Trump's statement that Iran is the "most destructive force" in the region.
On top of all this, the US continues to provide unconditional military and diplomatic support to "Israel", while applying a selective and politicized standard to its accusations against other regional actors.
Trump's 'olive branch' extended under intimidation
During his speech at the investment forum in Riyadh, Trump cautioned that "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," adding that his offer for a deal won't last forever.
Additionally, the US president threatened Iran with major repercussions should the ongoing nuclear talks between the two countries falter, while claiming he is willing to strike a deal.
"I want to make a deal with Iran," Trump stated, "If Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbours, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before," invoking his 2018 sanction campaign on Tehran.
Trump administration working to end war on Gaza
Trump also addressed the topic of Gaza during his address, announcing that his administration is working on securing the release of the remaining Israeli captives and ending the war on the Strip.
“We’ve been working tirelessly to bring back all hostages held by Hamas,” Trump announced as he discussed the release of American-Israeli captive Edan Alexander, noting, “We continue to work to get that war ended as quickly as possible. It’s a horrible thing that’s taking place."
Trump wishes Saudi Arabia to joins 'Abraham Accords'
The US president expressed his hopes that Saudi Arabia would join the "Abraham Accords", a series of agreements that saw Bahrain, Morocco, the UAE, and Sudan normalizing ties with "Israel" during his first term.
"It's been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords, and it's my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia, a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time, what you've been able to do, but will soon be joining the Abraham Accords," Trump said in his address.
He claimed that Riyadh becoming part of the "Abraham Accords" would be a "tremendous tribute" to the country, emphasizing that the move would be significant for the future of the region.
