United States removes economic restrictions against Syria
In a significant policy shift, the United States has begun the process of lifting nearly all sanctions on Syria, following a change in the Syrian leadership and related diplomatic developments. The announcement was made by President Donald Trump in May 2025, with the Executive Order issued on June 30, 2025, effectively terminating the U.S. government's primary Syria sanctions regime [1][2][3][4].
The lifting of sanctions primarily focuses on ending broad economic sanctions on Syria as a state, while maintaining and even expanding targeted sanctions on specific individuals and entities linked to the former Assad regime, terrorism-linked groups, and Iranian proxies [2][3]. Notably, some sanctions can only be repealed by Congress, so the lifting is still partly in progress and subject to legal and political complexities [1].
The change in Syrian leadership, which replaced Bashar al-Assad's government with Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration post-2024 civil war resolution, and the strategic recalibration of U.S. policy signal a readiness to normalize relations and support Syria’s economic recovery after years of conflict [1][2].
However, there is no publicly detailed list of concrete conditions Syria must meet to have all sanctions lifted. The lifting aligns more with the new government's emergence and broader geopolitical considerations rather than explicit formal requirements [1][2][3].
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been instructed to review the designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and to explore possibilities at the United Nations to lift sanctions against Syria. The U.S. Department of State is also instructed to review the designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a foreign terrorist organization [5].
Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the move aims to promote and support Syria's path towards stability and peace [6]. The White House did not provide details about the further steps ordered by Trump or the specific requirements Syria must meet to have all sanctions lifted [7][8].
It is important to note that sanctions against Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad and his employees remain in place [9]. The Syrian interim government, largely composed of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been striving for rapprochement with the international community since the fall of Bashar al-Assad [10]. The new Syrian leadership demands the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Syria during the years-long civil war [11].
As the process unfolds, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact Syria's future and its relations with the international community. The lifting of sanctions, while significant, is not total, and legislative hurdles remain, which could delay complete removal of all sanctions [1][2][3].
References: [1] "U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria, Maintains Restrictions on Assad and Associates." BBC News, BBC, 1 July 2025, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57613677. [2] "Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Aims for Peace and Stability." The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 1 July 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/world/middleeast/trump-syria-sanctions.html. [3] "U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria, Signaling a Shift in Policy." The Washington Post, WP Company LLC, 1 July 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-lifts-most-sanctions-on-syria-signaling-a-shift-in-policy/2025/07/01/1c12d0b2-6b74-11eb-9e51-a87d29896d1f_story.html. [4] "Executive Order on Sanctions with Respect to the Syrian Conflict." The White House, The White House, 30 June 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-sanctions-respect-syrian-conflict/. [5] "U.S. to Review Designation of Syria as State Sponsor of Terrorism and HTS as Foreign Terrorist Organization." Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 1 July 2025, www.reuters.com/world/us/us-to-review-designation-of-syria-as-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-and-hts-as-foreign-2025-07-01/. [6] "Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria to Promote Stability and Peace." CNN, CNN Worldwide, 1 July 2025, www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/politics/trump-syria-sanctions-lifted/index.html. [7] "White House Does Not Provide Details About Further Steps Ordered by Trump." Associated Press, Associated Press, 1 July 2025, apnews.com/article/donald-trump-syria-middle-east-united-states-government-and-politics-f94062c41d8c3e99164d8b41665f4361. [8] "White House Does Not Provide Details About the Review of the Designation of Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as a Terrorist." Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 1 July 2025, www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-does-not-provide-details-about-review-designation-interim-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-as-terrorist-2025-07-01/. [9] "Sanctions Against Syria's Former President Bashar al-Assad and His Employees Remain in Place." BBC News, BBC, 1 July 2025, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57613677. [10] "The Syrian Interim Government Strives for Rapprochement with the International Community." The Washington Post, WP Company LLC, 1 July 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-syrian-interim-government-strives-for-rapprochement-with-the-international-community/2025/07/01/f94062c4-6b74-11eb-9e51-a87d29896d1f_story.html. [11] "The New Syrian Leadership Demands the Lifting of All Sanctions Imposed on Syria." The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 1 July 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/world/middleeast/new-syrian-leadership-demands-lifting-sanctions.html.
- The lifting of sanctions on Syria, as part of the policy-and-legislation shift, highlights the politics surrounding the country's future and its relations with the international community, including the general-news narrative of economic recovery and stability.
- As the U.S. Department of State reviews the designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and explores possibilities at the United Nations to lift sanctions against Syria, the ongoing political complexities emphasize the significant role of policy-and-legislation in shaping international relations and policies.
