Syria has welcomed the move by the Trump administration to ease sanctions, calling it a “positive step” to ease humanitarian and economic suffering in the war-torn country.

The Trump administration issued orders Friday to begin easing sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift after US President Donald Trump pledged earlier this month to roll back the measures during a trip to the Middle East.

The president promised to ease sanctions on the war-torn nation when he met with its new leader this month. Most financial transactions with Syria were banned.