Donald Trump has signed an executive order to lift some financial sanctions on Syria, a move the White House states is intended to stabilize the country following the removal of Bashar al-Assad. The order aims to terminate the 2004 US sanctions program on Syria, which had frozen Syrian government assets and restricted exports due to Damascus’s chemical weapons program.
While some sanctions will persist, notably those mandated by the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 targeting reconstruction and natural gas development funds, and Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, Trump’s order primarily directs administration officials to consider broader sanctions relief. This could potentially provide leverage in discussions about normalizing ties between Syria and Israel and attracting foreign investment for the country’s reconstruction.
The order specifically directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evaluate suspending Caesar Act sanctions, allow for the relaxation of controls on certain goods exports, and lift restrictions on some foreign aid. Additionally, Rubio is instructed to review the designation of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa as a terrorist leader and Syria’s overall designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and to explore avenues for sanctions relief through the United Nations.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed the decision, stating that the cancellation of the majority of sanctions “opens the doors to long-awaited reconstruction and development… providing the necessary conditions for the dignified and safe return of displaced Syrians to their homeland.”
The White House framed the decision as a measure to protect US interests, emphasizing Trump’s efforts to combat foreign terrorists, promote normalization with Israel, and prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the order would lift sanctions on Syria while maintaining restrictions on former leader Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, those linked to chemical weapons activities, Islamic State affiliates, and Iranian proxies.
The move was largely anticipated after Donald Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the forces that overthrew Assad in December. Sharaa had voiced concerns that sanctions hindered his transition government’s ability to pay civil servant wages and fund reconstruction, prompting Trump’s pledge in May to lift all sanctions following Assad’s removal. Acting Under-Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brad Smith stated that the executive order would “end the country’s isolation from the international financial system, setting the stage for global commerce, and galvanizing investments from its neighbors in the region as well as from the US.”
Regarding the Abraham Accords, a senior administration official indicated that the White House would not press for specific territorial claims between Syria and Israel, suggesting a gradual approach to building trust and understanding.