Closed-door Trump-al-Julani meeting held at GCC summit

According to Al Mayadeen network, the U.S. President and al-Julani met on the sidelines of a summit of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

The meeting took place after Trump announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions imposed on Syria.

The session was held behind closed doors, and journalists were not allowed to attend. The White House did not immediately disclose who else was present at the meeting, but Anadolu Agency reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the meeting virtually with Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Ahmad al-Sharaa.

According to Anadolu, Erdogan stated during the meeting that Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria is of historical significance.

Following the brief meeting, the White House outlined Trump’s demands from the interim Syrian leader as follows: Syria must sign the Abraham Accords with the Israeli regime, demand that all foreign actors leave Syria, expel Palestinian groups, assist the United States in preventing the resurgence of ISIS, and take responsibility for ISIS detention facilities in northeastern Syria.

Meanwhile, Reuters, citing the White House, reported that al-Sharaa informed Trump that he would invite American companies to invest in Syria’s oil and gas sector.