U.S. extends suspension of sanctions against Syria amid White House talks
By patricklewis // 2025-11-13
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  • The U.S. has extended the suspension of sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act for another 180 days while simultaneously allowing certain transactions involving Syria to move forward.
  • The waiver enables U.S.-origin civilian goods, software and technology to be transferred to or within Syria without a license, but explicitly excludes dealings involving the governments of Russia or Iran or goods of Russian‑ or Iranian‑origin.
  • The policy shift coincided with a landmark White House meeting between Donald Trump and Syrian interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, marking an important diplomatic step and signaling Syria's changing international role.
  • Despite the relief, key sanctions related to the former Bashar al‑Assad regime's atrocities, chemical‑weapons proliferation and terrorist‑affiliated activity remain in force, meaning companies still face complex regulatory and licensing hurdles.
  • The 180‑day waiver remains temporary and renewable; unless Congress acts to repeal or amend the Caesar Act, Syria's access to U.S.‑origin goods and investment remains subject to U.S. political oversight and conditionality.
The U.S. has extended the suspension of a broad package of sanctions on Syria for another 180 days, coinciding with a high‑profile meeting between Donald Trump and newly installed Syrian interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa at the White House on Monday. In a joint advisory released by the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, State and Commerce, Washington said the waiver under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (2019) will continue to remain in effect, allowing certain businesses and transactions involving Syria that were previously blocked. Under the waiver, U.S.-origin goods of a basic civilian nature—and certain software or technology exports—may be transferred to or within Syria without a license. However, the waiver explicitly excludes transactions involving the governments of Russia or Iran or the transfer of Russian- or Iranian-origin goods, technology, software, funds, financing or services. The new guidance replaces an earlier waiver from May, marking a sustained shift in U.S. policy toward Syria. The decision comes on the heels of the Trump—al‑Sharaa meeting, which represents a significant diplomatic milestone: it is the first summit at the White House between a U.S. President and a Syrian head of state in decades. The visit underscores Syria's changing status on the international stage following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad and the rise of al‑Sharaa, who had previous ties to the former rebel group Hay'at Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS). In the advisory, the U.S. administration framed the sanctions relief as part of a broader strategy to support Syria's economic recovery and integration: the language noted a U.S. desire to give Syria "a chance at greatness." While the statute underpinning the sanctions remains on the books, the executive branch's repeated waivers have effectively softened its impact. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also issued general licenses allowing new investment and commercial activity consistent with U.S. foreign‑policy goals.

Sanctions relief comes with stringent limits and lingering exit strategy

Despite the relief, the administration emphasized that sanctions related to Assad‑era atrocities, chemical-weapons proliferation, ISIS/Al‑Qaeda affiliates and Iranian proxies remain in force. Companies seeking to engage in Syrian reconstruction or commerce must still navigate a complex set of export‑controls, licensing requirements and potential liabilities. Observers say the extension sends a signal to investors—and to Damascus—that Syria's economic reintegration hinges on cooperation, transparency and alignment with U.S. regional goals. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the delisting of al-Sharaa from terror lists by the U.S., U.K. and the United Nations, mere days prior to a White House meeting, is a geopolitical maneuver of significant consequence. This action, while advancing the legitimacy of Syria's new leadership, also signals a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy, positioning Syria as a potential partner in regional security efforts. Still, the 180-day suspension is explicitly temporary. Unless Congress acts to repeal or amend the Caesar Act, the waiver will need periodic renewal, keeping Syria's access to U.S.-origin goods and investment subject to political oversight and conditionality. For now, the extension opens a window of opportunity for Syria's reconstruction and re-entry into global markets—yet it remains constrained by guardrails designed to maintain leverage and guard against a return to destabilizing behavior. Watch this video about Trump ordering "cessation" of sanctions on Syria. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com Aljazeera.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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