The administration of US President Donald Trump has initiated contact with the new leadership, Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani confirmed.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, al-Shibani acknowledged the communication but declined to elaborate on the content of the discussions.

“[Syria is] an important actor in the region, and who want to perceive the stability and security in the region, they should talk with Damascus,” he stated, rating Syria's prospects for peace as "10 out of 10."

The Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which led the offensive that overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad in December, remains listed as a terrorist organization by the US and international bodies and is subject to sanctions.

Al-Shibani called for the lifting of these sanctions, which he said were initially imposed on al-Assad's regime but are now affecting the Syrian people as they attempt to rebuild after 14 years of war.

"Removing the sanctions is key to our vision for development and the new path for Syria," underscored al-Shibani.

Last week, Al-Monitor cited US officials as saying that the Biden administration has granted a limited sanctions waiver for regional countries assisting Syria's transitional government.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed lawmakers that the administration was lifting restrictions under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for nations providing support to the de facto government in Damascus, which would typically face restrictions on US-provided assistance due to Syria’s designation as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism."

The waiver covers Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, and Ukraine, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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The United States has already issued a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions to facilitate humanitarian aid.

In late December, the Biden administration removed the $10 million bounty on HTS leader, now Syria's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa after he assured US officials that he would prevent terrorist groups in Syria from threatening the US or the region.

Six EU members advocate for temporary suspension of Syria sanctions

In mid-January, Reuters reported that six European Union member states have urged the bloc to temporarily suspend certain sanctions on Syria, specifically in areas such as transport, energy, and banking.

EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the potential relaxation of sanctions on Syria during a meeting in Brussels on January 27.

The document, endorsed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, and Denmark, stated that the EU "should immediately begin adjusting our sanctions regime."

However, the paper cautioned that if Syria fails to meet the EU's expectations regarding human rights and minority protections, further sanctions may remain in place, and previously lifted measures could be reinstated through a snapback mechanism.

The six EU member states proposed lifting sanctions to enable civilian flights, reevaluating restrictions on high-value goods, removing the export ban on oil and gas technology, and reopening financial channels between the EU and Syria.  

They emphasized that sanctions targeting members of al-Assad's administration and its supporters should remain intact.  

Regarding HTS, the paper noted that lifting sanctions would require discussions at the United Nations level and coordination with key partners. It added that any decision would depend on a collective assessment of HTS, its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, and developments on the ground in Syria.

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