Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. Iran calls it 'total surrender'

A former al-Qaeda member, Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is seeking to rework his approach to the West after embarking on a mission to actively woo the US, in a bid to rebuild the country, which has been under sanctions for over a decade.

The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is still designated a terrorist group by the EU, the United States and the UN, is reportedly trying to get face time with US President Donald Trump during his trip to the Middle East, according to reports.

Sharaa had met Jonathan Bass, an American pro-Trump activist, on April 30 for four hours in Damascus, along with Syrian activists and Gulf Arab states. Bass is now reportedly trying to arrange a meeting between Sharaa and Trump, according to Reuters.

The Syrian leader, who is still a designated terrorist, believes this could help soften the US's sanctions. Bass too, hopes Trump's history of breaking longstanding US foreign policy taboos - meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea in 2019 - could work in Sharaa's favour.

“Sharaa wants a business deal for the future of his country,” Bass was quoted by Reuters. He added that Syria's offers could cover energy exploitation, cooperation against Iran and engagement with Israel.

“He told me he wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. He wants peace with his neighbours. What he told me is good for the region, good for Israel,” said Bass. "Sharaa also shared what he saw as a personal connection with Trump: both have been shot at, narrowly surviving attempts on their lives."

If it ever takes place, the meeting could be held in Saudi Arabia, as reports have emerged that Sharaa spoke with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Sunday. But a confirmation in this regard is not yet out. "Whether or not the meeting takes place won’t be known until the last moment," a person close to Sharaa told the news agency.

However, experts say such a meeting is unlikely due to two factors: Trump has a packed schedule, and there is no consensus within Trump's team on how to tackle Syria.

Iran slams Syria

The move has angered Iran, and its state-backed media has minced no words, calling Sharaa's decision to meet Trump as "his leadership's weakness" and a "humiliating capitulation".

After Sharaa came to power, Syria severed its ties with Iran and sought to build closer relationships with Iran's rivals like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

He also closed the Iranian embassy and banned Iranian nationals from entering the country. "The idea of a lavish Trump-branded building in the war-torn Damascus, where millions of people live in poverty and basic infrastructure is in disarray, highlights the gap between Sharaa's goals and Syrians' needs," Tehran Times wrote in an opinion piece.

It added that Sharaa has degraded Syria by putting external approval ahead of internal unity. 

Middle East