Britain has officially lifted sanctions on Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, following a similar move by the United Nations Security Council ahead of his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday.
In the same announcement, the UK government confirmed it would also remove sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab. Both officials had previously been subject to financial restrictions imposed over alleged links to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
The decision aligns with recent international efforts to improve diplomatic relations with Syria and encourage stability in the region.
Commenting on the matter, President Trump praised Sharaa’s leadership, saying, “I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a tough neighbourhood, and he’s a tough guy, but I got along with him very well. And a lot of progress has been made with Syria.”
Trump also explained the reasoning behind the move, telling reporters in Washington, “We did take the sanctions off Syria in order to give them a fighting shot.”
The lifting of sanctions marks a significant development in Western policy toward Syria, signalling a potential shift in approach after years of strained relations and economic restrictions.
