President Trump recently announced the normalization of U.S.-Syria relations by lifting long-standing sanctions, marking the first meeting between an American president and the Syrian leader in 25 years. This move is perceived by some as a subtle challenge to Iran.

This announcement marks a significant change from Trump’s previous stance, where he stated that the U.S. should have “nothing to do with” Syria.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, describes Trump’s shift as a potentially rewarding, yet risky, move to promote regional stability and safeguard U.S. interests.

Ben Taleblu stated that success could prevent Syria from being used for Iranian activities, but failure could empower a jihadist government in Damascus without full territorial control.

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, following a takeover by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, ended both an oppressive era and years of Iranian investment.

Trump emphasized that easing sanctions, a decision soon mirrored by the EU, would help Syria recover and encourage it to pursue normalization with Israel.

However, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who also leads a designated terrorist group, has not formally agreed to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. This aligns with the rejection from several Middle Eastern nations, particularly amid military operations in Gaza.

Trump also stressed the need for the new Syrian government to suppress the rise of ISIS. Ben Taleblu noted this as a key vulnerability for Syria as it re-establishes itself in the global order.

Ben Taleblu explained that Iran typically responds patiently, adhering to its ideological vision for the region, into which it has invested considerable resources.

The Iran expert said that Tehran is waiting for the U.S. and Israel to reduce pressure on it and its proxies, and for them to make mistakes while pursuing broader goals like stabilizing Syria or achieving regional peace.

He added that while efforts are focused on building up states, Tehran will concentrate on building up proxies and partners.

Syria remains divided, with ongoing conflict between various minority groups, former regime loyalists, and terrorist organizations like ISIS.

Secretary of State Macro Rubio warned lawmakers that Syria could be on the brink of collapse and a major civil war.

These divisions present a significant challenge for the new Syrian government.

Ben Taleblu stated that Iran often exploits vulnerable populations in conflict zones, using it as an entry point. He described this as Iran’s strategy across the northern Middle East, from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon.

He cautioned that exploiting disarray is a specialty of Iran.

The expert explained that if the Trump administration wants to prevent Iran from exploiting vulnerable Syrians, it must urge Damascus to address the needs of various groups.

Trump’s historical opposition to nation-building may hinder the long-term security of Syria, especially given Iran’s influence.

Ben Taleblu warned that Iran will play the long game, testing the patience of the U.S. and Israel regarding the future regional order.