In a rare U.S. media appearance, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara lauds Trump for lifting sanctions — a move critics warn strengthens a regime aligned with Iran and Hezbollah.
Syria announced that President Ahmed al-Shara sat for a full interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, set to air soon, where he delivered rare praise for U.S. President Donald Trump.
“President Trump took a significant step towards Syria when he lifted the sanctions in a swift, brave, and historic decision,” al-Shara declared.
He claimed Trump “understood that Syria must be safe, stable, and united,” adding that such stability was “in the interest of all countries in the world, not just Syria.” Al-Shara went further, signaling openness to direct dialogue:
“I believe that we should meet and discuss many issues and common interests between Syria and the U.S.”
But behind the flattery lies a troubling reality. Al-Shara leads a regime long tied to Iran, Hezbollah, and anti-Israel militancy, with Damascus serving as both staging ground and safe haven for terror operations. Any easing of sanctions risks emboldening these networks, funneling resources not into “stability” but into Iran’s axis of resistance.
For Israel and its allies, al-Shara’s praise is a warning: diplomatic courtesies and media rebranding cannot obscure the fact that Syria remains entrenched in the camp of those seeking Israel’s destruction.
