US Senator Marco Rubio met with his Syrian counterpart bilaterally and held a trilateral meeting to discuss sanctions relief for Syria. The Treasury Department said it is working with the State Department and National Security Council to lift sanctions, citing Trump’s direction.
Rubio told his Syrian counterpart that the US welcomes the Syrian government’s calls for peace with Israel and efforts to end Iran’s influence in Syria. He also emphasized the importance of protecting human rights for all Syrians.
The meeting comes ahead of a planned meeting between President Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who remains on the US terrorist list due to past ties with al-Qaeda. The meeting is expected to include discussions on a peace deal with Israel.
Trump had previously disregarded concerns from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about lifting sanctions on Syria, instead citing requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdoğan.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/05/15/rubio-syria-foreign-minister-meeting-turkey