U.S. signals intent to reopen embassy in Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United States expressed on Friday its intention to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The U.S. also extended a formal invitation to Syrian Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity.
According to a statement by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the invitation came during a phone call on Friday between al-Shaibani and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The statement noted that the two officials discussed a wide range of bilateral issues and regional concerns, adding that the U.S. has expressed its desire to reopen its embassy in Damascus.
The conversation addressed several files, including U.S. sanctions on Syria, most notably the Caesar Act, as well as the issue of chemical weapons, Iranian influence in Syria, counterterrorism efforts against the Islamic State (ISIS), and repeated Israeli strikes in southern Syria.
Al-Shaibani reiterated Syria’s readiness for genuine cooperation with Washington to lift sanctions, emphasizing that the continued enforcement of the Caesar Act severely hampers investment and reconstruction efforts across the country.
For his part, Secretary Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration is working to implement clear directives aimed at lifting sanctions. He noted that efforts are underway with Congress to repeal the Caesar Act in the coming months.
As part of the dialogue, both sides agreed to establish a joint committee on the chemical weapons file. The committee will include experts from both countries and aims to address lingering concerns through technical and diplomatic cooperation.
The officials also underscored that ISIS remains a persistent threat, particularly following the recent deadly attack on a church in Damascus. The U.S. pledged to assist Syria in counterterrorism efforts through intelligence sharing and enhanced security coordination.