Syria’s Sharaa holds phone call with Trump, Syrian presidency says

‌DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa held a phone call with US President Donald ​Trump, during which they discussed support for the Syrian economy and the latest regional developments, the Syrian presidency said on Sunday.
During the call, Sharaa said lifting the remaining US sanctions on Syria was essential to ‌reviving the ‌economy and attracting investments, ​according ‌to ⁠the ​statement.
The ⁠United States says some sanctions remain in place despite dismantling most of its Syria sanctions regime and repealing the Caesar Act, which imposed sweeping measures on individuals, companies and institutions linked ⁠to former President Bashar Assad.
Washington ‌says sanctions ‌will continue to target ​Assad and his associates, ‌as well as alleged human ‌rights abusers, traffickers in the addictive stimulant captagon, and other actors it says are destabilizing the region.
The US has also said ‌it is reviewing Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of ⁠terrorism, ⁠which carries restrictions on US foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.
Lifting the remaining sanctions is widely seen as key to the success of Syria’s new government. Several Saudi firms are planning billion-dollar investments in the country as part of Riyadh’s efforts to support its recovery, while ​other Gulf states ​have also pledged financial assistance.