Syria offers ‘Trump Tower’, energy and mineral deals to Trump in bid to ease US sanctions

DARAMSUQ — Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa has launched a high-stakes diplomatic bid to secure relief from the extensive US sanctions by offering President Donald Trump a suite of economic and political incentives, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

Al-Sharaa’s proposals include granting American firms access to Syria’s oil and gas reserves in exchange for lifting sanctions that have isolated the country from the global financial system since 2011.

Damascus has struggled to satisfy Washington’s preconditions for sanctions relief — such as removing designated terrorists from senior military positions and expelling foreign fighters — which US officials say remain unmet.

In a symbolic overture tailored to Trump’s business brand, al-Sharaa also proposed the construction of a “Trump Tower” in central Daramsuq as part of the deal package.

On 12 May, President Trump told reporters he was open to easing US sanctions on Syria, noting that a softer stance could give Damascus a fresh start after years of conflict and diplomatic isolation.

However, the proposal has met resistance within the US administration, with some advisers warning that direct engagement with a leader deemed a US-designated terrorist could undercut longstanding counter-terrorism and human rights objectives.

Media reports further indicate al-Sharaa has floated a Ukraine-style minerals agreement — offering shares in Syria’s phosphate and mineral wealth — to sweeten the sanctions-relief package.

US officials stress that any adjustment to the sanctions regime hinges on Damascus fully complying with more than a dozen strict benchmarks set by the Treasury and State departments.

Despite intensive back-channel lobbying, a face-to-face meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa during the president’s Middle East tour remains unlikely, given Trump’s tight schedule and the novelty of the overture.

Proponents of the outreach, including pro-Trump businessman Jonathan Bass, argue that only direct presidential engagement can overcome ideological blockages in Washington and deliver a breakthrough.