Trump formally orders lifting of Syria sanctions

US Treasury says it removed 518 Syrian individuals and entities from its database of sanctions aft president’s decree.

Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has signed an enforcement bid to dismantle a web of sanctions against Syria, a determination that volition apt unlock investments successful the state much than six months aft the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump’s decree connected Monday offers sanctions alleviation to “entities captious to Syria’s development, the cognition of its government, and the rebuilding of the country’s societal fabric”, the US Department of the Treasury said successful a statement.

The Syrian authorities has been nether dense US fiscal penalties that predate the outbreak of the civilian warfare successful the state successful 2011.

In a connection posted connected X, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed Trump’s decision, saying it “will unfastened the doorway of long-awaited reconstruction and development”.

“It volition assistance the obstacle against economical betterment and unfastened the state to the planetary community.”

The sprawling authorisation programme, which included provisions related to the erstwhile government’s quality rights abuses, has derailed reconstruction efforts successful the country. It besides contributed to driving the Syrian system nether al-Assad to the verge of collapse.

Trump promised sanctions alleviation for Syria during his sojourn to the Middle East successful May.

“The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and astatine bid with itself and its neighbours,” the US president said successful a connection connected Monday.

“A agreed Syria that does not connection a harmless haven for violent organisations and ensures the information of its spiritual and taste minorities volition enactment determination information and prosperity.”

Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from Washington, DC, said the sanctions alleviation was “wide-ranging”.

“This is simply a important measurement towards the rebuilding of Syria,” helium said.

The Trump medication said Syria-related sanctions against al-Assad and his associates, ISIL (ISIS), and Iran and its allies would stay successful place.

While the US Treasury said it already removed 518 Syrian individuals and entities from its database of sanctions, immoderate Syria penalties whitethorn not beryllium revoked immediately.

For example, Trump directs US agencies to find whether the conditions are met to region sanctions imposed nether the Caesar Act, which enabled dense penalties against the Syrian system for alleged warfare crimes against civilians.

Democratic US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar had partnered with Republican lawmaker Anna Paulina Luna to present earlier this week a measure that would legislatively assistance sanctions connected Syria to connection semipermanent relief.

Real alleviation for the Syrian radical requires repealing definite laws.

My measure with @RepLuna permanently repeals the sanctions and gives the post-Assad Syria a warring chance. https://t.co/gExbLiKS7z

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 30, 2025

As portion of Trump’s order, the US president ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reappraisal the designation of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arsenic a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.

Moreover, the US president ordered a reappraisal of the presumption of al-Sharaa’s group, al-Nusra Front – present Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – arsenic a designated “foreign terrorist” organisation. Al-Nusra was al-Qaeda’s subdivision successful Syria, but al-Sharaa severed ties with the radical successful 2016.

Al-Nusra aboriginal became known arsenic Jabhat Fath al-Sham earlier merging with the rebel radical HTS.

Al-Sharaa was the de-facto person of a rebel enclave successful Idlib successful northwest Syria for years earlier starring the violative that overthrew al-Assad successful December 2024.

Trump met with al-Sharaa successful Saudi Arabia successful May and praised the Syrian president arsenic “attractive” and “tough”.

The interim Syrian president, who is besides referred to arsenic Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has promised inclusive governance to allay concerns astir his past ties to al-Qaeda.

But violence and kidnappings against members of al-Assad’s Alawite sect by erstwhile rebel fighters implicit the past months person raised concerns among immoderate rights advocates.

Al-Sharaa has besides pledged that Syria would not airs a menace to its neighbours, including Israel, which has been advancing successful Syrian territory beyond the occupied Golan Heights and regularly bombing the country.