Syria hails US move to ease Assad-era sanctions as ‘positive step’
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Damascus: Syria has welcomed the decision by the Trump administration to ease sanctions imposed during the Assad era, calling it a “positive step” towards alleviating the country’s prolonged humanitarian and economic suffering. In an official statement, the Syrian foreign ministry said the country “extends its hand” to any party willing to cooperate with Damascus, provided there is no interference in Syria’s internal affairs.
The response came after the United States announced sweeping exemptions from sanctions on Friday, marking a significant move in President Trump’s pledge to roll back decades of economic penalties on Syria, which has endured over 14 years of civil war.
Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and newly appointed special envoy for Syria, met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad during their visit to Turkey on Saturday. President al-Sharaa expressed gratitude for Washington’s swift action in lifting the sanctions. “President Trump’s goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive,” Barrack said in a statement following the meeting.
He emphasised that the easing of sanctions aligns with the United States' primary objective of ensuring the enduring defeat of the Islamic State group, commonly known as IS or ISIS, and that it opens the door for Syrians to work towards a more promising future. Barrack also praised President al-Sharaa for taking steps to address key issues highlighted by President Trump, including foreign terrorist fighters, counter-ISIS efforts, relations with Israel, and the management of detention centres and camps in northeastern Syria—areas currently under the control of the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The U.S. State Department’s measure includes a six-month waiver of sanctions previously mandated by the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a law enacted by Congress to isolate Syria’s former leadership and bar international businesses from engaging with them. Concurrently, the U.S. Treasury Department has suspended enforcement of sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Syria, including the country’s central bank.
These sanctions, designed to block post-war reconstruction, can be temporarily lifted through executive action but may be reinstated after 180 days. As a result, investors remain cautious about committing to long-term reconstruction efforts.
The Trump administration stressed that the latest decision is only the beginning of a broader campaign to dismantle the longstanding structure of sanctions imposed on Syria. These penalties were originally enforced due to the Assad family’s alignment with Iranian-backed militias, use of chemical weapons, and human rights abuses.
During a recent visit to the region, President Trump reiterated his intent to ease financial restrictions to support the Syrian interim government’s stability and development.
Nael Kaddah, a resident of Damascus, expressed optimism about the change, noting that the easing of sanctions would revitalise Syria’s economy. “Now any citizen can receive a transfer from anywhere in the world,” he said, explaining that in the past, a few companies monopolised money transfers and charged excessive commissions.
The Syrian foreign ministry reiterated that diplomacy and dialogue are the most effective paths to forging balanced international relations, reinforcing regional stability, and serving the people's interests. It concluded by affirming that the upcoming phase in Syria would focus on reconstruction and restoring the nation’s rightful place in the region and the world.
With PTI inputs
