US President Donald Trump met with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on May 14, marking the first encounter between leaders of the two nations in 25 years, according to images seen by bnm IntelliNews. 

 The meeting occurred on the sidelines of Trump's discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, representing a significant shift in relations with post-Assad Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the talks via video call, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman also in attendance, according to the Turkish Anadolu news agency. The meeting took place in Riyadh before Trump's gathering with GCC leaders.

The White House Press Secretary said on social media that Trump presented five key conditions to al-Sharaa during their brief meeting: joining the Abraham Accords, expelling foreign terrorists from Syria, deporting Palestinian terrorists, assisting the US in preventing an ISIS resurgence, and assuming responsibility for the ISIS camp in northeast Syria.

While the trip to Riyadh focused on strengthening US-Saudi relations, with US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signing a Strategic Economic Partnership Document and several other agreements, the US president also decided that a meeting with his Syrian counterpart was needed.

The diplomatic engagement occurred despite opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged the Trump administration not to lift Syrian sanctions, according to an Israeli official, Hebrew media reported. 

At the GCC meeting, Trump said: "I have to say I've seen such progress. It's really incredible," Trump said. "I've also seen such unity and friendship."

The US president expressed hope for "incredible opportunities" in the Middle East "if we can simply stop the aggression from a small group of very bad actors," accusing his predecessor Joe Biden of "empowering Iran and its proxies" while "turning his back" on Gulf allies.

"Those days are over. Everyone at this table knows where my loyalties are," he declared, promising to "confront the aggression that threatens us all."

The May 14 meeting follows several major diplomatic initiatives by the Trump administration, including a deal with Hamas that secured the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the continuation of nuclear discussions with Iran.