Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani on Tuesday hailed US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Damascus, calling it a “new start” for Syria’s reconstruction efforts. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shibani expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its role in facilitating the move, saying it marked the opening of a new chapter for the Syrian people.

This comes after Trump announced the end of US sanctions during a high-profile appearance at a Saudi investment forum in Riyadh, framing the move as an opportunity for Syria to “achieve greatness” under its new leadership following the fall of the Assad regime.

Speaking at a Saudi investment forum in Riyadh, Trump stated that he decided to lift sanctions on Syria following discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, and killing in many years. That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade,” Trump said.

Trump also said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week.

The lifting of sanctions marks a significant victory for Syria’s new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the Assad regime’s collapse in December. The move is likely to be viewed unfavorably by Israel, which had intensified military and territorial actions in Syria following Assad’s fall.