Axios: Syrian Foreign Minister Visits Washington, Meets Lawmakers to Discuss Lifting Sanctions

Washington – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said Thursday that Assad Al-Shaibani, the Foreign Minister of the Syrian Transitional Government, will hold meetings with American lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to discuss the issue of lifting sanctions imposed on Syria.

According to Axios, Graham stated that the meeting, scheduled for today, will focus on sanctions enforced under laws such as the Caesar Act, and the possibility of lifting them permanently.

This visit marks the first by a Syrian Foreign Minister to Washington in over 25 years, giving it notable political significance in the context of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Graham said he would support lifting sanctions if Damascus takes formal steps toward signing a new security agreement with Israel, and joins an international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

According to the U.S. outlet, Al-Shaibani is expected to meet tomorrow, Friday, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco, as part of broader discussions on the future of bilateral relations and regional understandings.