Washington, May 31, 2026 (Agencies) – US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Tom Barrack, the United States Ambassador to Türkiye, has been appointed as Special Presidential Envoy to both Syria and Iraq, significantly expanding his diplomatic portfolio in the Middle East.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, saying Washington is deepening its strategic engagement with Syria and Iraq. “Our relationship with them continues to grow,” he wrote, adding that Barrack will remain as Ambassador to Türkiye and operate with the full backing of the United States Department of State.
Barrack, 78, has served as US Ambassador to Türkiye since May 14, 2025, and previously held the role of Special Envoy for Syria from May 23, 2025. He also assumed the role of Special Envoy for Iraq on January 31, 2026.
A billionaire real estate investor and longtime confidant of President Trump, Barrack served as the administration’s primary envoy to Syria since May 2025, while concurrently serving as US Ambassador to Türkiye. During his tenure, he oversaw Washington’s pivot towards the post-Assad administration of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, pushed for the easing of heavy economic sanctions on Damascus, and coordinated counter-Islamic State operations alongside regional allies including Türkiye and Gulf Arab states.
Just a day before Trump’s announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that while Barrack’s formal title as Special Envoy for Syria was expiring, he would continue to play a leading diplomatic role overseeing American policy across Syria and Iraq. Rubio praised his contribution, saying Barrack had delivered “wins on behalf of our great country” and would continue to drive the administration’s America First agenda across the region.
The announcement came as Washington remains locked in high-stakes negotiations with Iran and as Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards launched new attacks on separatist groups in northern Iraq. Barrack’s expanded assignment places him at the center of several overlapping pressure points in the region.
Barrack has also been closely involved in developments related to Syria and dialogue efforts between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and held engagements with Kurdish leadership including Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
“Barrack’s special envoy title has expired, but his role has not, and he remains Washington’s lead on Syria, Iraq, and Türkiye,” said Nanar Hawach, senior Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group. “The expiry changes little in practice, because he was already coordinating those three files together before it lapsed. By keeping him in place without naming a successor, Washington signals it wants continuity and his existing access rather than a reset on Syria.”