Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrived in Washington this week to engage US lawmakers in discussions regarding the lifting of sanctions. According to Axios, Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed that he and other senators would meet with Shibani on Thursday, marking the first in over 25 years. Shibani is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, Axios reported. The US State Department did not immediately respond to inquiries about Shibani’s visit.
A New Path to a Security Pact
This landmark visit follows recent comments from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who stated that negotiations with US ally Israel could soon yield results. Sharaa hopes to finalize a security pact with Israel that would halt airstrikes and secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Syria.
However, President Donald Trump previously announced the lifting of some key US sanctions earlier this year. Graham said he would support the permanent repeal of certain sanctions, including those authorized by the Caesar Act, only if Syria takes official steps toward a new security deal with Israel and joins a coalition against the Islamic State extremist group.
Reuters recently reported that Washington was pressuring Syria to reach an agreement before world leaders gather for the UN General Assembly next week. Nevertheless, Sharaa denied any US pressure, insisting that the US was merely playing a mediating role in the negotiations. He claimed that since the rebel offensive began on 8 December, Israel has conducted more than 1,000 strikes on Syria. The ouster of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad followed 13 years of civil war, as the rebel offensive led by Sharaa finally toppled the previous regime.
