‘Path to Stability and Peace’: White House Terminates Most Sanctions on Syria

Latest Developments

• Syria Sanctions Terminated: The Trump administration issued an executive order officially lifting most of the U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria. The order is intended to “promote and support the country’s path to stability and peace” and to “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 United States.” President Donald Trump announced his intention to lift the sanctions — which were imposed on the regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad — after meeting with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May.
• ‘Open the Door to Development’: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani stated that the move will “open the door of long-awaited reconstruction and development.” The sanctions termination ends the comprehensive sanctions regime on Syria, including those imposed during the George W. Bush administration, and eases export control restrictions to allow freer flow of goods into the country. Additionally, the order calls on the administration to review the terrorist designations for Sharaa and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the former al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist rebel group that Sharaa headed at the time of Assad’s ousting in December 2024. While it leaves intact the “Caesar Act” sanctions against entities that conduct business supporting the Syrian military, intelligence, or other suspect institutions, which can only be repealed by Congress, it allows the State Department to issue waivers if specific criteria are met.  
• Some Sanctions Remain: The order maintains sanctions on Assad and his associates, “human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS or its affiliates, and Iranian proxies.” It also provides the U.S. government with additional authorities to sanction anyone responsible for threatening the United States and its interests or for preventing Syria from becoming “stable, unified, and at peace itself and its neighbors.” The State and Treasury Departments may also impose sanctions on those who attempt to prevent free and fair elections and the development of a government “that is representative and reflects the will of the Syrian people.”

FDD Expert Response

“Mainstream outlets seem to be ignoring the fact that the sanctions rollback also includes new authorities to address ongoing U.S. foreign policy and national security concerns in Syria. The administration deserves credit for including these measures, particularly those targeting anyone who prevents Syria from developing a constitution, holding free and fair elections, and forming a representative government. The question now is whether the administration will aggressively enforce these new tools and hold bad actors to account — including those currently in power.” — Max Meizlish, Senior Research Analyst

“President Trump promised sanctions relief to Syria back in May as an essential step to ease the humanitarian and economic suffering Syrians have endured for the past 14 years. However, the absence of clear conditions tied to this relief for Syria’s new leadership remains a problem. While there have been some positive developments over the past six months, troubling trends have emerged as well — including the integration of foreign jihadists into the Syrian army despite earlier U.S. demands to exclude them — and only limited progress toward political representation.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Islamic State Resurfaces in Damascus With Deadly Bombing,” by Ahmad Sharawi

“Victory over Iran gives Trump the chance to reshape Mid East with trade deals,” by Hussain Abdul-Hussian

“The Struggle for Syria,” by Steven A. Cook and Sinan Ciddi

“New Syria sanctions relief (and risks) explained,” by Matthew Zweig and Max Meizlish