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President orders cessation of sanctions on Syria; State Department offers limited public timeline
Summary
The White House announced an order to cease sanctions on Syria; the State Department's principal deputy spokesperson said the president has signaled a desire for a 'fresh start' and that Secretary Rubio will meet Syria's foreign minister in Turkey, but officials did not provide a timeline or details.
President Trump announced an order to cease sanctions on Syria, and the U.S. Department of State described the move as part of an effort to create a “fresh start” in relations with Syrian authorities. Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson, declined to provide a timeline for lifting sanctions and said specifics would not be previewed from the podium.
Reporters asked how quickly sanctions could be lifted; Pigott said, “I have nothing additional to preview. The president obviously spoke to this, and the president has been clear he wants to see prosperity for the entire region.” He repeated that the president’s trip was aimed at promoting peace and long-term prosperity in the region.
Pigott also confirmed that Secretary Rubio will meet Syrian foreign minister al Shaiban in Turkey later in the week, but he offered no details about the agenda or whether sanctions actions would be discussed in that bilateral meeting. The spokesperson said the administration has communicated to Syrian interim authorities some actions it expects for peace and prosperity but gave no operational specifics.
The briefing provided the administration’s public posture but withheld implementation details, timelines and any legal or procedural steps needed to rescind or modify sanctions.
