Syrian foreign minister to discuss lifting of US sanctions in Washington this week - Axios
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Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani will meet with U.S. lawmakers in Washington this week to discuss the lifting of remaining U.S. sanctions on his country, Axios reported citing Senator Lindsey Graham.
The visit also takes place amid a U.S. mediation effort to reach a new security agreement between Israel and Syria.
The Syrian foreign minister is traveling from London, where he held talks with Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to discuss an Israeli proposal for a new security agreement, according to Axios.
A Syrian government source told Al-Jazeera that the Syrian FM stressed to Dermer that regional security can only be achieved by respecting Syria's sovereignty and independence.
Shibani's visit will mark the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Washington in more than 25 years.
Graham told Axios that he and other senators are due to meet Shibani on Thursday to discuss the permanent lifting of certain sanctions authorized by legislation, including the Caesar Act.
Shibani is expected to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, Axios reported.
Graham said he would support the cancelling of those sanctions if Syria officially moved toward a new security deal with Israel and joined a coalition against the Islamic State extremist group, according to Axios.
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, named after a Syrian military defector who smuggled out photos of torture victims, is a U.S. law that took effect in June 2020. It targeted the Assad regime and anyone doing business with it, especially in sectors like energy, construction, and finance, according to Axios.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa told reporters on Wednesday that the negotiations with Israel could lead to results in the coming days.