Trump Lifts US Sanctions on Syria to Support Reconstruction Efforts

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order ending America’s long-running sanctions program on Syria, in a move that paves the way for the war-torn nation to rejoin the global financial system and rebuild its economy after more than a decade of conflict.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that while broad sanctions were terminated, the United States will continue to maintain strict measures against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his allies, human rights violators, drug traffickers, chemical weapons actors, ISIS affiliates, and Iranian-backed proxies.

Assad was toppled last December after a swift offensive by opposition forces, enabling Syria to begin restoring diplomatic and trade ties.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the executive order, posting on X that the move would “unlock opportunities for reconstruction and economic development” and help the country reconnect with international partners.

Trump had first indicated plans to lift sanctions during his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh in May, signaling a dramatic policy shift.

Some members of Congress are calling for a full repeal of all Syria-related restrictions, while European countries have already announced they will end their sanctions regimes.

“Syria deserves an opportunity, and this order delivers it,” US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack told reporters. He described the decision as the culmination of a “thorough, detailed, and challenging process to responsibly roll back sanctions.”

According to a White House fact sheet, the order also instructs the Secretary of State to review Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and to examine the listing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group led by Sharaa with links to al-Qaeda.

The administration stressed that it will closely monitor Syria’s progress on normalization with Israel, curbing foreign fighters, deporting Palestinian militants, and dismantling terror organizations.

Following Trump’s May announcement, the US Treasury issued a license allowing transactions with Syria’s interim government, its central bank, and state-owned firms.

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