President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would lift sanctions on the Syrian government and expressed a strong willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Iran, marking a dramatic shift in Washington’s traditional approach to the Middle East. The move signals what Trump described as “a new era of strategic flexibility,” where diplomacy, not confrontation, will define U.S. foreign relations.
“There are no permanent enemies, only enduring interests,” Trump declared during a keynote speech at the Global Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, the first major event of his second-term foreign tour. “It’s time to move past the mistakes of endless wars and missed opportunities.”
A Turn in U.S. Policy Toward Syria and Iran
The decision to lift sanctions on Syria reverses years of bipartisan U.S. policy aimed at isolating President Bashar al-Assad over human rights abuses and the use of chemical weapons during the Syrian civil war. Trump framed the move as a pragmatic choice to stabilize the region and encourage reconstruction efforts. “We can’t keep punishing the Syrian people for the sins of their leaders,” he said.
Trump’s overture to Iran also marks a sharp departure from his earlier hardline stance, which included the withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the imposition of crushing economic sanctions. While he stopped short of offering immediate sanctions relief for Iran, he said the U.S. is “ready to sit down without preconditions.”
“I believe peace is possible if we treat our adversaries with open eyes but also open minds,” Trump said, hinting that backchannel communications between U.S. and Iranian officials have already taken place.
Mixed Signals on Military Engagement
Though Trump criticized past U.S. interventions in Iraq, Libya, and Syria as costly and ineffective, he made it clear that American military power remains a key part of the country’s global strategy. “We will always defend our people, our allies, and our interests,” he warned, adding that any threats from hostile states or terrorist groups would be met with “swift and overwhelming force.”
He also praised U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, assuring them that any shift in policy would not compromise existing defense and intelligence cooperation. “Dialogue does not mean weakness,” Trump said. “Our commitment to our allies is ironclad.”
Reactions from the Region and Beyond
The announcement drew mixed reactions around the world. Syrian officials hailed the lifting of sanctions as a “courageous and just decision” and called for broader international engagement. Iranian state media welcomed Trump’s willingness to negotiate, but senior officials remained cautious, demanding a complete rollback of U.S. sanctions before any formal talks.
Back home, Trump’s move faced criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who accused him of legitimizing authoritarian regimes. Human rights groups also warned that easing pressure on Syria could embolden Assad and undermine accountability for war crimes.
Despite the backlash, Trump appeared unfazed. “History will judge those who try to keep us trapped in the past,” he said. “I’m choosing to look to the future.”