U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria in a dramatic diplomatic overture, contingent on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa fully normalizing relations with Israel and supporting broader regional security efforts, as per Fox News.

In a readout of a high-stakes meeting on Wednesday, Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered agreements normalizing ties between Israel and several Arab states. In exchange, Trump offered to lift U.S. sanctions that have crippled Syria’s economy for over a decade.

The proposal also included a series of demands: expelling all foreign terrorists from Syria, deporting individuals labeled as “Palestinian terrorists,” assisting the U.S. in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS), and assuming responsibility for ISIS detention centers currently operated by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria.

An estimated 10,000 ISIS fighters remain imprisoned in the region, under the watch of the SDF — a Kurdish-led militia aligned with U.S. counterterrorism efforts. The U.S. currently maintains about 1,400 troops in Syria to support the anti-ISIS campaign.

Trump’s Mideast Push

The announcement comes as Trump embarks on a tour of key Middle Eastern allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Regional leaders have reportedly urged the U.S. to ease pressure on Syria’s new government to allow for post-conflict reconstruction and economic recovery.

“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that we must all hope will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Trump said during remarks on Tuesday. “So I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”

Al-Sharaa, a former senior official under Bashar al-Assad, rose to power after leading the ouster of Assad last year. He was previously associated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group originally linked to al-Qaeda before officially distancing itself in 2016. Despite his controversial past — including a now-lifted $10 million U.S. bounty — al-Sharaa has been recognized by several regional powers.

Photos released by the Saudi Press Agency show Trump meeting with al-Sharaa, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The imagery underscores the strategic weight being placed on a potential Syrian pivot toward the West.

Celebrations in Damascus

In Syria, news of the proposed sanctions relief sparked celebrations in the capital Damascus, with crowds gathering in public squares waving Syrian flags and praising al-Sharaa’s international breakthrough.

Trump’s move was reportedly backed by both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who view a more stable Syria as critical to regional security.

“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump joked during the press briefing.

Skepticism from Washington and Jerusalem

While Trump and his allies cast the move as a step toward Middle East peace, not all voices in Washington were convinced.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) expressed tentative support for the sanctions rollback but cautioned, “Israel is still extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria.”

Israel has long warned about the dangers of Iranian and extremist influence in post-war Syria, and al-Sharaa’s ties to former jihadist elements remain a point of concern.

Despite the controversy, Trump said he was hopeful the normalization between Syria and Israel could set the stage for further regional integration.

“It’s a dream to bring Saudi Arabia on board,” he said, adding that the kingdom “will join the Abraham Accords when the time is right.”