'Palestinian Groups Ban' in the List: Syrian Lobby, US Lawmakers Push for Rapprochement as Washington Sets Eight Demands

As the Trump administration hesitates to re-engage with Syria, a group of U.S. lawmakers, encouraged by the influential Syrian-American lobby, has started building quiet bridges between Washington and Damascus.

In a sign of cautious outreach, President Ahmed al-Sharaa received Republican Congressman Cory Mills on April 19, 2025—the first official visit by U.S. lawmakers since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in December 2024.

Supporting Syria

During their unofficial visit, Mills and Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman toured Damascus. Stutzman visited the infamous Sednaya Prison, long known as a symbol of the Assad regime’s brutality. Speaking from in front of the prison, he said lifting U.S. sanctions could deliver a major economic boost.

Stutzman told reporters that he saw that the people of Syria now have energy and optimism, adding that as the country’s new government makes decisions, “it will be very helpful having the United States understand what the changes are here and that the sanctions lifted would be a huge economic boom.” Any move to lift sanctions “would be President Trump’s decision,” he said.

“As a member of Congress, I can go back home and share with my colleagues, share with the president and others, and tell the story of the changes that are happening in Syria and we want to be here to support that,” Stutzman added. “We would not want to see Syria fall back in the hands of another dictator.”

Syrian officials have repeatedly called for Western sanctions to be lifted, arguing they punish ordinary Syrians for the crimes of the former regime. But Washington insists the new government must first take steps to protect religious and ethnic minorities.

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Congressman Mills to discuss ways to stabilize Syria, rebuild ties with the U.S., and lift sanctions. 

According to a Syrian Foreign Ministry statement, the talks focused on developing political and economic ties and building a “strategic partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.”

The two also discussed cross-border militias, drug trafficking, and organized crime, agreeing on the need for international cooperation grounded in respect for sovereignty and international law.

Al-Shaibani emphasized the humanitarian toll of U.S. sanctions, which he described as illegal obstacles to reconstruction and social healing. He called their removal “essential.”

Mills, in an interview with Syria TV, said he came to Syria with an open heart and mind to understand the country’s new reality and explore ways to help its people. 

A Growing Lobby

The U.S. congressional delegation was joined by several members of the Syrian-American community on what was described as a “fact-finding mission” to Syria. The visit was organized by the Indiana-based nonprofit Syrian-American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, which aims to foster new ties between Washington and Damascus after Assad’s fall.

According to the organizers, the trip was intended to assess the situation on the ground and establish lines of communication with Syria’s new leadership.

Tarek Kteleh, a co-organizer of the visit, said its main goal was to give U.S. lawmakers a firsthand look at Syria’s economic and social conditions and the ongoing impact of U.S. sanctions. He noted the visit “could help pave the way for a new relationship between Washington and Damascus, one not tied to the Russian-Iranian axis."

“This is a fact-finding effort,” he added, “to observe conditions on the ground, meet with minorities, assess the economy, and ensure that a level of stability and peace exists in the country.”

The delegation, accompanied by members of the Syrian-American lobby, visited multiple areas across Syria.

The same alliance had previously sent a delegation of more than 20 Syrian-American figures to Damascus on December 27, 2024, where they met President al-Sharaa at the Presidential Palace to discuss Syria’s future.

There is growing talk in Washington of a possible reassessment of U.S. sanctions policy, following a list of demands recently presented to the Syrian government.

Eight U.S. Demands

According to London-based al-Majalla magazine, the U.S. has presented Syria with a list of eight key demands as a condition for easing tensions and reestablishing direct cooperation. 

These demands, reportedly delivered to the Syrian Foreign Minister during a recent visit to Brussels, are as follows:

Military Restructuring: Form a professional, national army. Prohibit foreign fighters from holding sensitive leadership positions.

Chemical Weapons Access: Grant full access to all chemical weapons sites and related programs.

Missing Americans Investigation: Establish a dedicated committee to investigate and account for missing American citizens, including journalist Austin Tice.

Al-Hol Repatriation: Facilitate the repatriation of families affiliated with extremist groups from the al-Hol camp, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria.

Counterterrorism Collaboration: Collaborate with the U.S.-led international coalition in combating ISIS.

Freedom of Operations: Allow U.S. forces to conduct counterterrorism operations on Syrian soil against individuals Washington considers threats to national security.

Palestinian Groups Ban: Issue a public declaration banning all Palestinian Groups and political activity in Syria and deport their members.

Iranian Influence Reduction: Prevent Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria. Classify both the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanese Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

In this context, Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) Radwan Ziadeh, who accompanied the American delegation to Damascus, confirmed that the demands were officially delivered to the Syrian government, and a written response was requested.

Ziadeh revealed in televised remarks that Damascus responded with a four-page document offering detailed answers. According to U.S. assessments, the response was seen as “positive,” which has prompted Washington to consider offering incentives. These may include a two-year freeze on sanctions, potentially covering restrictions on Syria's access to the international SWIFT financial system, as a goodwill gesture and a pathway to further engagement.

“Our job now,” Ziadeh said, “is to back the voices in Washington calling for dialogue with Syria—and quiet the ones calling for conflict.”

A Tangible Development

The recent visit of the American delegation to Syria is seen by observers as a “tangible positive development” in the direct relations between Damascus and Washington.

This visit signals that there is at least direct negotiation happening, contrary to the earlier rumors that suggested Washington and the West might treat the Syrian administration in the same way as the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Washington has also shown signs of building trust with Syria by overlooking Saudi Arabia’s debt repayment to the World Bank on Syria’s behalf. Syria's government officials were granted visas to attend the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) conferences in Washington, with discussions now taking place about offering Syria loans for reconstruction.

Syrian media reported that Saudi Arabia plans to settle Syria’s World Bank debts, amounting to approximately $15 million, which must be paid before the international financial institution can approve further aid or assistance.

However, Syria is facing a shortage of foreign currency, and previous plans to settle the debts using frozen assets abroad have not succeeded.

These steps indicate the first known instance of Saudi Arabia providing funding to Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. 

It may also be a sign that significant support for Syria from Gulf Arab states is finally materializing after previous failed attempts, including a Doha-led initiative to fund salaries amid uncertainties surrounding U.S. sanctions.

On April 20, 2025, Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husarieh traveled to the U.S. to attend the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. The goal of the visit was to bolster Syria’s chances of reintegrating into the global financial system.

In a post on LinkedIn, Barnieh said the Syrian delegation carried a comprehensive agenda of meetings and bilateral talks. He expressed hope that these efforts would positively impact Syria’s path toward rejoining the international community and financial system.

Barnieh also expressed hope that these meetings would provide opportunities to support Syria’s reconstruction efforts, rebuild institutions, and establish economic and financial stability, setting the Syrian economy on a recovery trajectory.

These steps would ultimately improve the living conditions for the Syrian people, who have suffered greatly, which is the foremost priority for Syria's leadership.

The Syrian community abroad expressed gratitude to the U.S. government, particularly the State Department, for granting visas to Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister al-Shaibani.

In a statement, the community noted that Syria’s participation in these crucial international meetings after years of isolation is essential for helping Syrians rebuild their country and recover from the systematic destruction inflicted by the Assad regime over decades.

It also pointed out that the presence of al-Shaiban in New York offers a vital opportunity for constructive diplomatic dialogue and a step toward restoring Syria’s pivotal role in the United Nations, a role that was diminished under Assad’s rule, when the country became internationally known primarily for exporting terrorism, drugs, and refugees.