US Muslim group praises Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the US, has hailed President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria, Anadolu Agency reported. Announced during the 2025 Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump described the existing sanctions as “brutal and crippling” and expressed his intention to remove them to give Syria “a chance at greatness.”

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad welcomed the move, calling it “an important and welcome step.” Awad also urged President Trump to pressure Israel to cease bombing Syria and to withdraw from Syrian territories it occupies. He emphasized that the Syrian people deserve to rebuild their country free from foreign sanctions, occupation, and interference.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Riyadh ahead of a scheduled meeting with Trump. The US president began his Gulf tour with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling a shift in US policy toward Syria and the broader Middle East region.