Trump Lifts Longstanding U.S. Sanctions on Syria, Paving Way for New Diplomatic Era
by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – In a historic move aimed at reshaping the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape, President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order lifting long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria, marking a dramatic pivot in American foreign policy following the fall of the Assad regime late last year.
The executive order lifts a series of sanctions targeting the Syrian economy, while maintaining stiff penalties on former President Bashar al-Assad, his inner circle, and known violators of human rights and international law. Sanctions will also remain in place against ISIS, Iranian proxy groups, and individuals connected to chemical weapons usage.
President Trump framed the decision as both a humanitarian and strategic step forward, citing “positive actions” taken by Syria’s new interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa. “A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity,” Trump said in a statement accompanying the order. “The sanctions were brutal and crippling… but now it’s their time to shine. So I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special.”
Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, was the leader of the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the Assad regime in December 2024. Since assuming the presidency, he has presented a more Western-friendly image and has worked to distance his government from Iran and extremist ideology, though questions remain regarding HTS’s past and the treatment of minorities under the new regime.
The White House emphasized that sanctions could be reimposed if Syria fails to meet expectations. “We’re not nation-building,” said Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria. “We’re giving them a chance.”
The executive order also lifts the 2004 emergency declaration on Syria and revokes five earlier executive orders tied to it. It directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reassess Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism and to consider removing HTS and al-Sharaa from the U.S. list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Additionally, the State Department has issued a 180-day waiver under the Caesar Act, providing time to reassess targeted sanctions imposed over Assad-era war crimes.
The U.S. Treasury Department immediately began easing restrictions through a general license (GL25), authorizing business with the interim Syrian government and its central bank. Export controls and certain foreign assistance limits were also loosened.
This move comes as the Trump administration accelerates efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, the landmark diplomatic initiative launched in 2020 that has already brought together Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and others. Syria, long viewed as one of Israel’s fiercest enemies, is now under consideration to join the growing coalition of peace.
“This is another promise made and promise kept by President Trump,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “He met with Syria’s new president during his Middle East trip, and the world was shocked. But this is how peace begins–with bold steps.”
Though some analysts caution against trusting a government with Islamist origins, others see potential for a realignment that weakens Iran’s regional influence and ends more than a decade of devastating civil war.
The executive order is among the most consequential acts of foreign policy in Trump’s current term, signaling a full departure from the policies of previous administrations and potentially reshaping the path toward long-term regional peace.
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