Riyadh, 13 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) — President Donald Trump said the United States will lift its sanctions on Syria.

"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," said Trump on Tuesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he kicked off a three-nation Middle East trip.

"It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off," he said. "So I say good luck, Syria, show us something very special."

Sanctions relief would loosen a tight economic noose around Syria and provide a major boost to the country as it tries to rebuild from a devastating 14-year civil war.

Trump is set to meet with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.

Sanctions were imposed by the US and other countries in the wake of the war that erupted under former president Bashar al-Assad. His regime was overthrown in early December by an Islamist rebel alliance.

The new Syrian leadership under al-Sharaa has expressed interest in repairing ties with the international community and is seeking broader diplomatic recognition as it moves to stabilize the country.