Trump lifts U.S. sanctions on Syria, citing push for "stability and peace"
By lauraharris // 2025-07-05
Copy
 
  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 30 lifting broad U.S. sanctions on Syria, fulfilling a pledge made in May to support Syria's transition and promote regional stability.
  • While general economic sanctions were removed, the order maintains restrictions on Bashar al-Assad, human rights violators, ISIS members, chemical weapons actors, Iranian-backed militias and drug traffickers.
  • The executive order allows the Secretary of State to suspend certain sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act if specific reform criteria are met, and it eases controls on exports and foreign aid.
  • The administration aims to use sanctions relief as an incentive for Syria to normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords, citing reported backchannel talks between Damascus and Jerusalem.
  • U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Tom Barrack, emphasized the move is not about imposing a U.S. framework but about offering Syria a chance to rebuild and reintegrate, while monitoring progress on key issues like terrorism, regional diplomacy and post-conflict reintegration.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting board U.S. sanctions on Syria, fulfilling a controversial pledge made during a regional summit in Saudi Arabia last May. On May 13, Trump met with Syria's newly appointed president, Ahmad al-Sharaa – a former al-Qaeda fighter who spent time in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison and later emerged as a central figure in Syria's transitional government. During the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, Trump pledged to ease economic pressure on Syria in exchange for steps toward regional normalization and internal reform. (Related: Trump considers WITHDRAWING U.S. troops from Syria as Israel expands occupation.) As promised, Trump signed an executive order on Monday, June 30, that would lift U.S. sanctions on Syria to encourage "stability and peace." The order removes longstanding economic sanctions on Syria that were initially imposed in response to the Assad regime's atrocities during the country's civil war. However, it retains sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle, human rights abusers, the individuals tied to chemical weapons activities, members of ISIS and Iranian-backed militias and drug traffickers operating in the region. Notably, the order grants the Secretary of State authority to suspend additional sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a law enacted to punish Assad for crimes against humanity, if certain conditions are met. Additionally, the executive order eases export controls on non-military goods, waives some restrictions on foreign assistance, directs a review of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism and initiates a reassessment of the terrorist designations of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and al-Sharaa. The administration argues that these changes are necessary to reflect the political transformation of Syria and to encourage constructive engagement with the new government. Moreover, officials claimed that the administration's top priorities include normalizing Syria's relations with Israel and the broader region, deporting Palestinian terrorists and banning terrorist groups, preventing an ISIS resurgence and transferring responsibility for ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria to Syrian authorities.

Trump administration aims to boost regional ties with Syria

In line with the executive order, a senior administration official emphasized that the decision to lift sanctions was not about leveraging Syria into compliance but rather opening the door to regional engagement. "Leverage is not what we're interested in doing. The president ripped the sanctions off without any conditions," they said. "It's to Syria's benefit to lean towards Israel." Officials also revealed that Syria and Israel have reportedly held backchannel talks. The administration hopes the economic incentive created by sanctions relief will help bring Syria into the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization framework between Israel and several Arab states. "So the way to entice them to get to the Abraham Accords is to make it fruitful for them on an economic basis, on a on a civilization basis, on a peace and prosperity basis, and that's all coming together. And what's happened between Israel and Iran gives that window," the official said. "So we're not interested in leveraging them into anything." U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack echoed a similar statement. Barrack described the executive order as Trump's effort to give the Syrian government a chance. "But one thing is clear, neither the president or the secretary of state is nation-building. They're not dictating, they're not requiring. They're not giving the framework of the democratic model that needs to be implemented in their architecture or desire. They're saying we are going to give you an opportunity. We have a bunch of criteria that we want to watch along the way," he said, citing issues such as the Abraham Accords, the reintegration of foreign fighters into Syrian society, safeguarding U.S. allies who fought against ISIS, and other key priorities. Follow Trump.news for more news about the president's policies regarding the Middle East. Watch this video about the Israel Defense Forces advancing in southern Syria.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel defies Syrian demands, escalates airstrikes in southern Syria.

Turkey unleashes terrorist JIHAD against Aleppo government in Syria.

European nations reestablish diplomatic relations with Syria following Assad's ousting.

Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com WhiteHouse.gov ABCNews.com Brighteon.com
Copy