US President Donald Trump announced that he will remove Syria from the "state sponsors of terrorism list" where it has been since 1979.
Trump made statements to the press after the 36th NATO Summit hosted by Ankara, before his bilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Shara.
Asked whether Syria would be removed from the "state sponsors of terrorism list," he said: "I think I will do that. Why not? (Shara) did a very good job. Maybe (Shara) could have brought up this issue. That's a good question. Does anyone have a problem with this? I think we should do it. Yes, I will remove (Syria from the list)."
Asked whether he wants Syria to help with Lebanon and Hezbollah, Trump said: "They can help. We'll see. We are making great progress on this."
Regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attitude towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump commented: "(Erdoğan) is not a friend of Netanyahu, they don't get along well. But you know, for me (Erdoğan) was great. Turkey has been a great ally. Also a NATO country."
Trump said he did what "no US President has done" for Israel, adding: "If I were not US President, Israel would not exist today."
Describing the war that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran as "the job of denuclearizing Iran," Trump stated: "(Iran) will never have a nuclear weapon. They accepted that they will never have it. But they always misbehave. There is a problem with them."
Trump claimed that only the US has machines that can extract nuclear material "from underground" in Iran, and that they would go there if uranium is "completely eliminated or an agreement is made."
On the question about relations with the European Union (EU), Trump said: "We'll see what happens with the EU. They have taken advantage of us for years. We are very close with those countries, with every EU country. The problem is they have taken advantage of the US for years. Like (Shara). They also took advantage of Syria. He is bringing back (Syria) and I am bringing back the US."
"EVERY TIME WE HIT IRAN, OIL PRICES GO UP A LITTLE"
Stating that oil prices dropped 50% last month, Trump shared his view: "Every time we hit Iran, oil prices go up a little."
Asked whether Israel will withdraw its soldiers from southern Lebanon, he said: "I talked to Netanyahu about this. Yes, I think they will. I think they want to. I think it's great for them to get along with Lebanon and make agreements with Lebanon."
Noting that an agreement has been made with Israel and Lebanon, Trump said: "Yes, (regarding Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon) they will leave and I think it will turn out very well."
Criticizing the US administration before his presidency, Trump commented on Shara: "If he had come to Washington a year and a half ago, he would have feared for his life because (Washington) was very dangerous."
