“The Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the decision of the American government to abolish sanctions that Syria and its people have been imposed for many years,” said the Foreign Ministry in Damascus. The US decision is a “positive step in the right direction to relieve humanitarian and economic suffering”.
The US Ministry of Finance officially implemented the lifting of the sanctions announced by US President Donald Trump last week. According to Finance Minister Scott Bessent, the United States “approves of new investments in Syria”.
Syria must “continue to work to become a stable country where peace prevails, and today’s measures will hopefully bring it to a radiant, prosperous and stable future,” emphasized Besseten. The United States had imposed sanctions in Syria during the civil war, which lasted more than 13 years.
The relaxation of the sanctions also applies to the new government of Syria – on the condition that it does not grant terrorist organizations and ensure the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, the US Ministry of Finance said.
At the same time, the US State Department issued a regulation that enables foreign partners and allies to participate in the reconstruction of Syria and allow investments in the country.
The aim is to “facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitary facilities and to enable more effective humanitarian aid throughout Syria,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He thus referred to a 180-day exemption for a law enacted in 2020, which provided sanctions against any institution or every company that cooperated with the Assad government at the time.
Trump announced the lifting of long-term US sanctions against Syria last week. On a Middle East trip, which had led him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Trump surprisingly announced that he would pick up the “brutal and paralyzing” sanctions imposed under Assad at the request of Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, the EU also agreed to lift all remaining economic sanctions against Syria. At the end of February, the EU had already partially suspended its punitive measures against the country.
The Islamist HTS militia listed by transition heads head Ahmed al-Schaara and allied groups with it had overthrew the long-time ruler Assad in December. The HTS is an earlier branch from Al Qaeda, but had long since removed from the terror network. Former jihadist Al-Schaara has been trying for a more moderate image since taking office.
