The Trump administration has announced plans to roll back sanctions on Syria, marking a significant policy shift following US President Donald Trump’s pledge to ease the measures during his recent trip to the Middle East. The move is intended to help the country recover from years of devastating war and rebuild.
A general license (GL25) has been issued by the US Treasury Department, authorizing transactions involving the interim Syrian government, central bank, and state-owned enterprises. This effectively lifts sanctions on Syria and will enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with Trump’s “America First” strategy.
The US State Department also issued a 180-day waiver under the Caesar Act to ensure sanctions do not impede investment and advance Syria’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. The waivers will facilitate humanitarian response, electricity, energy, water, and sanitation provision.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that today’s actions represent the first step in delivering on Trump’s vision for a new relationship between Syria and the United States. Trump announced sanctions relief during his visit to Saudi Arabia last week, after meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The move has been coordinated with Saudi officials, who argue that lifting sanctions will boost the Syrian economy and stabilize the region. However, not all US allies in the region support this decision, as Israel had opposed removing sanctions, citing concerns about the potential for a repeat of past events.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/24/middleeast/us-moves-to-ease-sanctions-syria-trump-intl-hnk