Ankara: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa hailed the role played by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Arabia in lifting US sanctions on Syria.

According to Anadolu Agency, Al-Sharaa stated that President Erdogan and Saudi Arabia mediated last year with US President Donald Trump to lift the sanctions on Syria. This was revealed during an interview with Al Jazeera television, where Al-Sharaa emphasized the collaborative efforts that led to this diplomatic achievement.

Al-Sharaa highlighted that despite the lifting of most sanctions, Syria remains designated by the US as a state sponsor of terrorism. This designation, he noted, falls under the purview of the US State Department, requiring a recommendation by President Trump. The process involves submitting the recommendation to Congress for a 45-day review period, allowing for any objections before the final decision is made to formally remove the designation.

Furthermore, Al-Sharaa mentioned that Damascus has provided assurances to address the original reasons for the designation. These assurances include commitments that Syria will not serve as a safe haven for terrorism or facilitate the transfer of weapons or funds. He clarified that these guarantees were made independently of any external expectations from Syria.

The removal of Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is seen as a crucial step towards the country's economic recovery. Although most sanctions were lifted following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the long-standing designation since 1979 remains a significant hurdle for Syria's progress.