Tom Barrack's appointment signals Washington’s recognition of Türkiye’s increased regional influence in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting by rebel forces last year

By Daren ButlerISTANBUL (Reuters) -President Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during talks in Istanbul on Saturday that Turkey welcomed the U.S. and EU decisions to lift sanctions on Syria,

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former militant commander who led the overthrow, says he is working to build an inclusive government friendly to the West. Some Trump administration officials are pushing to lift or waive sanctions as fast as possible without demanding tough conditions first.

European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed to lift the remaining economic curbs on the war-torn country, amid concerns it could slip back into conflict.

The Treasury Department's OFAC said that it "issued Syria to provide immediate sanctions relief for Syria in line with the President’s announcement for the cessation of all sanctions."

The top U.N. official for Syria warned Wednesday of the “real dangers of renewed conflict and deeper confrontation” in the war-battered country but also hoped for a better life for its people following decisions by the U.

Syria is potentially “weeks” away from collapse, even though the U.S. recently eased longstanding sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation,