Syrian Islamist Government Calls for Lifting of US Sanctions

The Islamist government of Syria claimed that US sanctions are an obstacle to improving the situation in Syria and called for their removal. On Sunday, January 6, after a trip to Doha, the capital of Qatar, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaybani described US sanctions as a "barrier to the rapid improvement and progress of the Syrian people" and contrary to the expectations of the Syrian people for receiving services and partnerships from other countries. While US officials have begun engaging with the new rulers of Syria, they state that any future decisions by Washington regarding Damascus will depend on the performance of the new government in Syria. In this context, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East last month to gain regional support for the formation of an inclusive government with the participation of ethnic and religious minorities and to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. The Syrian Foreign Minister reiterated the new government's request for the lifting of US sanctions, emphasizing that the sanctions imposed against the "[Bashar] Assad regime" are currently affecting the Syrian people. The international community, which is awaiting the performance of the new Syrian government and future developments in the country, has yet to take any action to lift the economic sanctions on Syria. Assad Hassan al-Shaybani identified Qatar as one of Syria's partners and mentioned among the new government's plans the "reconstruction" of the country, "resuming foreign relations" with Arabs and other countries, and ensuring the "fundamental and civil rights" of the Syrian people. Following the violent suppression of protests in Syria 13 years ago by Bashar Assad's government, relations between Qatar and Syria soured, and Doha supported the opponents of the Syrian government. According to Qatari officials, senior Syrian officials, including Assad Hassan al-Shaybani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marhaf Abu Qasra, Minister of Defense, and Anas Khattab, Head of Intelligence, met with senior Qatari officials, including Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, during a recent trip to Doha. Mohammed Al-Khalifa noted that preventing any foreign intervention is one of the goals of Qatar-Syria cooperation, as explained by Assad Hassan al-Shaybani regarding the new government's plans and future steps. Assad Hassan al-Shaybani announced on his 'X' account that he will travel to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to garner support for "establishing stability, security, improving the economic situation, and attracting partnerships." The Syrian Foreign Minister made his first foreign trip less than a month after the fall of Bashar Assad's government to rebels on December 8 (18 Azar) last week to Saudi Arabia. Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, on Friday, January 6, after her trip to Damascus, linked the lifting of EU sanctions against Syria to the political progress between the parties and added that such a move is "too early."