The United States said on Monday it was partly suspending enforcement of some of its toughest sanctions on Syria for another 180 days as President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House for landmark talks.

Sharaa’s visit capped a stunning year for the rebel-turned-ruler who toppled a long-time autocratic leader and has since sought to end Syria’s decades of international isolation.

Trump met Sharaa in the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to Washington, six months after their first meeting in Saudi Arabia, where the US leader announced plans to lift sanctions, and just days after the US said the former al-Qaeda commander was no longer a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.

In an unusually low-key welcome, Sharaa arrived without the fanfare usually given to visiting foreign dignitaries. He entered through a side door where reporters only got a glimpse instead of through the West Wing main door where cameras often capture Trump greeting VIPs. A pool of reporters that often goes into the Oval Office for such talks was not allowed in.

Soon afterwards, the US Treasury Department announced a new order to replace its May 23 waiver on imposition of Caesar Act sanctions, which it said indicated “our commitment to continued sanctions relief for Syria”. It essentially appeared to extend the waiver by another 180 days.

Exceptions include “certain transactions involving the governments of Russia and Iran, or the transfer of provisions of Russian-origin or Iranian-origin goods, technology, software, funds, financing, or services”, the Treasury said in a statement.