The key facts
- Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met in Damascus with US envoy Tom Barrack
- Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani took part in the meeting
- The Syrian presidency did not disclose the details of the issues discussed
Meeting in Damascus
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa held talks in Damascus on Wednesday with US envoy Tom Barrack. The meeting took place at the People's Palace in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, the Syrian presidency reported.
Topics of the talks
According to the presidency, the sides discussed 'cooperation and coordination on a number of issues of mutual interest that serve the interests of both countries and contribute to strengthening security and stability.' The presidency did not specify which issues were addressed and provided no additional details of the talks.
Context: lifting of sanctions
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a gradual change in US policy toward Syria. On August 24, the US removed Syria from the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism.' Washington also revoked the status of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization and removed the group from the sanctions list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Earlier, in June 2025, the US lifted sanctions on Syria by presidential order — this happened after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.
