Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: A senior European Union official hinted that 'Israel' would be held accountable for violating international law in Gaza
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida: The losses incurred by the occupation today in Khan Younis and Jabalia are an extension of a series of top-tier operations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: The invading Israeli force is digging a trench and erecting earthen berms, amid detected activity suggesting preparations to install espionage equipment
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: An Israeli force breaches the "technical fence" in the Wazzani area
Israeli media: 4 Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Government Media Office: Starved citizens are tempted to head to American-Israeli centers and then are deliberately shot
Gaza Government Media Office: The toll at US-Israeli aid distribution centers is as follows: 110 martyred, 583 wounded, and 9 missing
Gaza Government Media Office: 8 starved civilians were killed and 61 others were injured by the gunfire of Israeli occupation forces and an American security company in Rafah
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Three martyrs, injured in Israeli drone strike on phone charging station west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four martyrs, dozens of injured as IOF open fire on civilians near GHF facility west of Rafah, southern Gaza.

Syria responds to US demands, says will not be threat to 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 26 Apr 2025 09:07
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Syria responds to US conditions for sanctions relief, pledging action on chemical weapons and missing Americans, while seeking talks on foreign fighters, strikes, and Palestinian fighters in Syria.

Listen
  • x
  • Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani speaks as he attends a Security Council meeting on the situation of the Middle East at United Nations Headquarters on Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)
    Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani speaks as he attends a Security Council meeting on the situation of the Middle East at United Nations Headquarters on Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)

Syria has submitted a formal response to a list of US Syria conditions for potential sanctions relief, stating it has fulfilled most demands, but that others require “mutual understandings” with Washington, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Reuters.

Perhaps most importantly, the letter vows that Syria would not become a threat to "Israel".

The United States previously presented Syria with eight conditions, including the destruction of remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and ensuring that foreigners are not given senior government roles. The request comes as Syria seeks relief from sanctions that have crippled its economy after 14 years of war and isolation.

Although Washington issued a six-month exemption in January to ease sanctions for humanitarian aid, its impact has been limited. In return for meeting all the demands, the US offered to extend the suspension for two years and possibly grant further exemptions.

Reuters first reported that US official Natasha Franceschi delivered the conditions to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani during a March 18 meeting in Brussels. In his first address to the United Nations Security Council, Shibani emphasized that Syria was acting on several of the requests, notably regarding Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles and the search for missing Americans.

The four-page Syrian letter to the US pledged to establish a liaison office within the Foreign Ministry to assist in locating missing American journalist Austin Tice and detailed steps to cooperate with global arms watchdogs on chemical disarmament.

Related News

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

ISIS key threat, attacks targeting Shias, Christians foiled: Damascus

No threat to 'Israel'

However, the letter was less forthcoming on other critical points, including the removal of foreign fighters in Syria and granting the US permission to conduct counterterrorism strikes.

The letter indicated that discussions had been held with former US envoy Daniel Rubinstein regarding foreign fighters but described the matter as needing “broader consultative sessions.” It noted that military promotions for foreign fighters had been suspended but did not confirm whether previous appointments had been revoked.

Syria also addressed concerns about Palestinian factions operating within its territory. The letter stated that a committee had been formed to monitor these groups and assured that armed factions outside of state control would not be tolerated. Notably, Syria pledged not to allow its territory to become a source of threat to any party, “including Israel.”

On 'counterterrorism', Syria’s position was that any such cooperation “requires mutual understandings.” The letter affirmed that the interim government would not permit threats to US or Western interests, but stopped short of committing to specific actions.

Syria expressed a willingness to engage further with Washington, suggesting that the steps taken could lead to detailed discussions about lifting sanctions and reopening embassies. The letter, sent on April 14, arrived shortly before Shibani traveled to New York, where he was expected to discuss the response with US officials.

The document proposed ongoing dialogue about coordinating anti-extremist efforts without directly authorizing US strikes, a sensitive issue given past foreign military interventions.

The letter acknowledged existing communication between Syrian counterterrorism officials and US representatives in Amman, revealing previously unreported direct contact aimed at combating ISIS elements. Syria indicated it was open to expanding this collaboration under mutually agreed-upon terms.

Read more: US holds Syrian government forces responsible for massacres in West

  • Syria
  • United States
  • Asaad Hassan al-Shibani
  • US sanctions on Syria
  • Israel
  • ISIS
  • Chemical Weapons
  • US sanctions relief
  • Asaad al-Shibani

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-chief--nato-likely-to-back-trump-s-5--defence-spend
Politics

Europe spent $3 trillion on defense, but got little in return - FT

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein: Telegraph
Europe

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein - The Telegraph

Eilat port as seen from the sea, occupied Palestine, March 12 2009 (wikimedia commons)
Politics

YAF operations forced 80% plunge in Eilat port revenues in 2024

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges
Europe

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS