WASHINGTON : U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday, rolling, taking back many of the U.S. economic sanctions on Syria. This move fulfils a pledge he made to Syria’s newly formed interim leadership with the Syrian Leader.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary stated that the decision is intended to “promote peace and stability in the country.
During a press briefing, Brad Smith, acting Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury, explained that the order is designed to “end the country’s isolation from the international financial system,” opening doors for global trade and investment from regional partners and the United States.
Read More
- Kuwait intercepts drones as IRGC claims strike on US base
- Hamas accepts US-backed roadmap to disarm and exit Gaza governance
- Germany records nearly 10,000 heat-related deaths this year
- US military completes two-hour strikes on dozens of IRGC targets in Iran
- Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with ‘facilitating terrorism’, issues international arrest warrant
The actions that were taken on Monday did not revoke sanctions on the former president Bashar Assad, tis top aides and his family members, who had been determined to have committed human rights abuses, and been involved in various other cases including drugs.
In a historic move, the U.S. had granted sweeping sanctions exemptions to Syria in May, marking the first significant step toward ending decades-long penalties. The Biden administration’s executive order officially lifted the national emergency declared in 2004 by President George W. Bush, which had targeted Syria for its presence in Lebanon and weapons programmes. Five other related executive orders were also revoked.
While most economic sanctions are being removed, key restrictions remain. Sanctions targeting terrorist groups and the Captagon drug trade are still in effect. The U.S. continues to list Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and classifies the interim government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa as a foreign terrorist organisation, though those designations are under review.
This policy shift follows former President Donald Trump’s May meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, where Trump pledged to lift sanctions and work toward normalizing relations.
“This is another promise made and promise kept,” said Trump spokesperson Leavitt.
The European Union has also followed same, lifting nearly all its remaining sanctions on Syria.
