President Donald Trump introduced final week that he would normalize US relations with Syria by lifting sanctions many years in the past, making him the primary US president to fulfill Middle Eastern leaders in 25 years.
The information was a stunning shift from Trump’s earlier place in a December publish, saying, “Syria is confused, however not our buddy, and the United States ought to don’t have anything to do with it.”
The change in Trump’s stance is a bet the place we will see critical advantages in securing regional stability and US pursuits by deterring Iran’s affect, defined Ben Ben Tareble, an Iranian professional and senior fellow on the Democracy Foundation.
President Donald Trump, Syrian President Alshara and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Reuters)
US ambassador Barack, named Syria’s particular envoy within the sanctions reduction plan
The December collapse of Bashar al-Assad regime after the acquisition by former al-Qaeda affiliate Heiat Taharil al-Sham (HTS) not solely marked the tip of a decades-long repressive regime, but additionally successfully dismantled a few years of Iran’s funding in a large setback to regional affect.
Trump argued that the reduction from the sanctions would give the nation a chance to recuperate, and argued that EU orders to elevate the sanctions continued quickly, underscoring the transfer to encourage Syria to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
However, Syrian Ahmed al-Shara, who can be the chief of the HTS, remains to be a terrorist group designated underneath the United States and the United Nations, however has not formally agreed to pursue diplomatic ties with Jerusalem – amid aggressive navy operations on the Gaza Strip, a number of Middle Eastern states have been fully rejected.
Trump additionally emphasised the necessity for the brand new Syrian authorities to curb the rise of Islamic extremist teams. Ben Tareble famous that as commerce, enterprise and diplomacy have resumed in Damascus, it seems to be absolutely reestablished on this planet order, making it one of many nation’s main vulnerabilities.
Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian authorities, behind automobiles transferring alongside roads within the western Syrian metropolis of Latakia on March 9, 2025. (by way of Omar Haj Kadour/AFP Getty Images)
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“Tehran has historically responded to a lot of these issues with endurance, and the Islamic Republic has an ideological view on how the area needs to be directed.
The Iranian Ensa defined that Tehran is ready for the US and Israel to place stress on the federal government and its proxies.
“And tentatively, Washington will concentrate on constructing a state the place Tehran will concentrate on constructing a proxies and companions,” he added.
File – Members of Iranian Revolutionary Guards through the parade. The IRGC is designated by the State Department as a international terrorist group. A big a part of that job is secretly working exterior of Iran. (Reuters.) (Reuters.)
Syria will not be a unified nation as battle continues throughout the nation between varied minority teams, former regime loyalty and terrorist organizations like ISIS.
Secretary of State Macro Rubio additionally warned lawmakers Tuesday that Syria might be “just a few weeks” away from “a full-scale civil struggle of potential collapse and epic proportions.”
These fractures current a fantastic vulnerability to the brand new Syrian authorities.
“Whenever there’s somebody who’s oppressed or confiscated in a struggle or battle zone, that’s the angle of entry into the battle in Tehran,” stated Ben Talebri. “This is an Iranian technique, sitting and ready, attempting to harness alternatives throughout the Northern Middle Eastern lessons, from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon.
“Exploiting misuse is a specialist within the Islamic Republic,” he warned.
People collect within the air at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria on December eighth to have fun the collapse of the Syrian regime. (Ali Haji Suleiman/Getty Images)
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Experts defined that if the Trump administration desires to make sure that Iran can’t exploit weak Syrian teams, it might want to push Damascus to deal with the troublesome issues confronted by varied teams throughout the nation.
Though the president and his members are well-known for opposing the nation-building that would spell bother for the long-term safety of Syria sitting within the shadow of Iran.
“Tehran goes to play an extended sport, and they’ll run the clock in terms of endurance between the US and Israel as to what future regional order will appear like,” warned Ben Talebri.