President Donald Trump said the US would explore normalizing relations with Syria after the toppling of longtime autocrat Bashar al-Assad, adding to a pledge to lift sanctions against the country’s new government.

Now, it is up to the new Syrian government to live up to this opportunity, and for regional actors to help them succeed,' says Jim Risch - Anadolu Ajansı

P resident Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, May 13, that he plans to end the U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria, which have been in place for over 45 years. Announcing the news on the first day of his Middle East tour, during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump said he would be lifting sanctions “in order to give them [Syria] greatness.”