U.S. State Department: We Are Not Following the Steps of Countries That Rushed to Normalize with Syria

Tim Lenderking, the senior official at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, affirmed that Washington is not in a hurry to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria. He explained that these sanctions will remain in place until Damascus takes concrete steps to meet U.S. demands.

Lenderking stressed that the United States is taking a different approach from some countries that have already reopened their embassies and resumed contact with the new Syrian authorities. He emphasized that Washington has not reached that stage yet, but it respects the decisions of other nations without imposing its policies on them.

U.S. Congressman Cory Mills, who recently visited Damascus, stated that he had discussed with President Ahmad al-Sharaa the U.S. requirements for easing sanctions. Mills indicated that he intends to deliver a message from al-Sharaa to former President Donald Trump, addressing Syria’s readiness to engage in dialogue with Israel, reduce Iranian influence in the country, and reject joining regional alliances.