Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is reportedly pitching an ambitious plan to secure a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during his Middle East tour.

The proposal, which includes building a Trump Tower in Damascus, offering U.S. access to Syria’s oil and gas reserves, and pursuing détente with Israel, aims to charm the U.S. administration into easing crippling sanctions that have isolated Syria from the global financial system.

Syria, reeling from 14 years of devastating civil war, faces immense challenges in rebuilding its economy. U.S. sanctions, designed to pressure the former Assad regime, continue to hinder recovery efforts, leaving nine out of ten Syrians in poverty.

Sharaa, who assumed power after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is seeking sanctions relief to kickstart economic recovery.

His unconventional pitch, detailed in discussions with American pro-Trump activist Jonathan Bass on April 30, 2025, in Damascus, reflects a calculated effort to appeal directly to Trump’s business instincts and deal-making persona.

Bass, who met Sharaa for four hours alongside Syrian activists and Gulf Arab representatives, relayed the Syrian leader’s vision: a Trump Tower in Damascus as a symbol of economic partnership, U.S. access to Syria’s energy resources, and a commitment to peace with Israel.

Sharaa also highlighted a personal connection, noting that both he and Trump have survived assassination attempts, hoping to forge a rapport.

The Syrian delegation, with support from Gulf states, is attempting to arrange a landmark meeting between Sharaa and Trump on the sidelines of Trump’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

A source close to Sharaa indicated that a meeting remains possible during the Saudi leg of the tour, though Trump’s packed schedule and divisions within his administration make it unlikely.

Charles Lister, head of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute, emphasized the strategy behind this push: “The idea is that getting to Trump directly is the best avenue because there are just too many ideologues within the administration to get past.”

The Trump administration has yet to articulate a coherent Syria policy, with some officials favoring a hardline stance due to Sharaa’s past ties to al-Qaeda, while others in the State Department advocate for engagement.