The U.S. Embassy in Ankara posted on X (formerly Twitter) that this came during the American envoy’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in Istanbul.

The U.S. envoy stated that he commended Al-Sharaa for taking concrete steps to implement President Donald Trump’s points regarding foreign fighters, counter-ISIS measures, relations with the Israeli occupation, and the camps and detention centers in northeastern Syria.

During the meeting, Barak reiterated "U.S. support for the Syrian people after years of prolonged conflict and violence," emphasizing the stance of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that "had we not acted swiftly and thoughtfully to lift sanctions, our regional partners would not have been able to provide the financial support, supplies, and energy needed to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people affected by shocks."

He noted that Al-Sharaa praised the rapid U.S. move toward lifting sanctions, citing the historic announcement yesterday by Secretary Rubio exempting Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days, along with the U.S. Treasury’s issuance of General License No. 25 and other sanctions relief measures.

Barak explained that "President Trump’s goal is to enable the new government to create conditions that not only ensure the survival of the Syrian people but also allow them to thrive and grow."

He added that both the U.S. and Syrian sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing these critical dialogues and joint efforts to develop private-sector investments in Syria to rebuild the economy, including contributions from regional and international partners.

The U.S. envoy described the meeting as "historic," stating that "the sanctions issue has been overcome, as President Trump indicated, resulting in a shared commitment from both nations to move swiftly in investment, development, and building a new image of Syria—one that is welcoming and sanctions-free on the international stage."

This meeting came hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Al-Sharaa in Istanbul, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional and international developments, following the U.S. announcement of an immediate easing of certain sanctions on Syria.