President Trump Normalizes Relations with Syria and Lifts Sanctions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 13, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for this historic decision by President Trump today in Saudi Arabia, during which he announced normalizing ties and lifting sanctions. This marks a massive victory and a fresh start for the Syrian people. 

This follows key engagements by SETF as a part of a strategic plan to reach President Trump to lift sanctions and meet President al-Sharaa.

1. SETF led a U.S. delegation to Damascus including American businessman Jonathan Bass; Maissa Qabanni, Vice President of Global Justice; Maryam Kamalmaz representing American families missing loved ones in Syria, and Henry Hamra, representing the Syrian Jewish community. 
2. SETF met with the Syrian President for nearly four hours and discussed the importance of a Syria – U.S. partnership, and we agreed to convey President al-Sharaa’s message to President Trump, emphasizing the golden opportunity for a partnership based on mutual economic, political, and security interests as well as shared values.
3. Back in Washington, the SETF team relayed al-Sharaa’s message directly to the Trump administration, including the National Security Council, State Department, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Wittkof and his deputy Morgan Ortagus. 
4. The SETF team met with US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, giving him president al-Sharaa’s offer. SETF also contacted Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the US, as well as to the Türkiye Foreign Ministry. 
5. To further ensure we reached president Trump, SETF launched a major media campaign highlighting al-Sharaa’s message to the American president including the Wall Street Journal, FOX News, Reuters, the Associated Press, Al-Monitor, DropSite, the Guardian, National Public Radio, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CBS, AFP, BBC, among others. 

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to be part of the Syrian Emergency Task Force and the Syrian Revolution. SETF’s team made a miracle happen that marks the accumulation of 14 years of struggle for a free and prosperous Syria. Thank you, President Trump for giving Syria a chance to become a democracy,” said Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of SETF.

For inquiries, please contact:

 Maria Cure, Director of Communications 

[email protected]    www.setf.ngo

About the Syrian Emergency Task Force

The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is a Syrian-American 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to advancing Syria’s future after the fall of the Assad regime, SETF supports a democratic transition, leads humanitarian efforts, and works to secure justice and accountability for war crimes committed by the regime and its allies. Today, SETF stands as the most notable American organization working on Syria, as evidenced by the impact it has made both on the ground in Syria and the U.S. SETF serves as a resource for education by bringing the voices of the Syrian people to the international stage. From testimonies at the UN Security Council to local grassroots community fundraisers, the team brings together like-minded people who are committed to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic Syria after enduring years of brutality under a repressive dictatorship.