President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order officially ending US sanctions on Syria , fulfilling a prior commitment to end the sanctions program.
The executive order follows President Trump's announcement in May, during his visit to the Middle East, that the US would lift all sanctions on Syria. During the trip, Trump held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had earlier formed a transitional government in March after the fall of the Assad regime, which was toppled by opposition forces. The White House clarified that sanctions would still apply to former president Bashar al-Assad.
"The order will remove sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on the former president, Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in the day during daily briefing.
The Al-Sharaa government had been urging the Trump administration for months to ease sanctions, with preliminary efforts already underway even before the president’s announcement in May. However, certain sanctions, particularly those imposed when Syria was labeled a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, would still require formal repeal by Congress.
In May, the US took a major step toward ending decades of sanctions on Syria by granting broad exemptions, the first move toward fulfilling President Trump’s promise to lift the long-standing penalties on the war-torn nation.
“This is another promise made and promise kept,” Leavitt said Monday.
The treasury department followed up last month by easing restrictions on Syrian banks, airlines, and President Al-Sharaa, and issuing guidance for approved transactions, including those related to infrastructure development. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated that the changes were intended to promote investment and economic recovery in Syria.
The European Union has also lifted nearly all remaining sanctions on Syria.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both key US allies in the region, have expressed support for restoring ties with Syria's new government. Both nations have provided aid, with Saudi Arabia even offering to help settle some of Syria's debts, actions that may potentially conflict with existing sanctions. The Saudis view this as a chance to shift Syria’s allegiance toward their side, following years of the country’s alignment with Iran under the Assad regime.
In 2003, then-President George W Bush signed the Syria accountability act, targeting Syria for its support of US-designated terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, its military occupation of Lebanon, suspected development of weapons of mass destruction, involvement in oil smuggling, and support for armed groups in Iraq following the US-led invasion that same year.
The executive order follows President Trump's announcement in May, during his visit to the Middle East, that the US would lift all sanctions on Syria. During the trip, Trump held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had earlier formed a transitional government in March after the fall of the Assad regime, which was toppled by opposition forces. The White House clarified that sanctions would still apply to former president Bashar al-Assad.
"The order will remove sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on the former president, Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in the day during daily briefing.
The Al-Sharaa government had been urging the Trump administration for months to ease sanctions, with preliminary efforts already underway even before the president’s announcement in May. However, certain sanctions, particularly those imposed when Syria was labeled a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, would still require formal repeal by Congress.
In May, the US took a major step toward ending decades of sanctions on Syria by granting broad exemptions, the first move toward fulfilling President Trump’s promise to lift the long-standing penalties on the war-torn nation.
“This is another promise made and promise kept,” Leavitt said Monday.
NEW: President Trump just signed an Executive Order terminating the Syria sanctions program to support the country’s path to stability and peace.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 30, 2025
The Order removes sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug…
The treasury department followed up last month by easing restrictions on Syrian banks, airlines, and President Al-Sharaa, and issuing guidance for approved transactions, including those related to infrastructure development. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated that the changes were intended to promote investment and economic recovery in Syria.
The European Union has also lifted nearly all remaining sanctions on Syria.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both key US allies in the region, have expressed support for restoring ties with Syria's new government. Both nations have provided aid, with Saudi Arabia even offering to help settle some of Syria's debts, actions that may potentially conflict with existing sanctions. The Saudis view this as a chance to shift Syria’s allegiance toward their side, following years of the country’s alignment with Iran under the Assad regime.
In 2003, then-President George W Bush signed the Syria accountability act, targeting Syria for its support of US-designated terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, its military occupation of Lebanon, suspected development of weapons of mass destruction, involvement in oil smuggling, and support for armed groups in Iraq following the US-led invasion that same year.
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