President Trump Signs Executive Order Lifting Sanctions on Syria

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating a U.S. sanctions program on Syria, a move that will allow the country to reintegrate into the international financial system and begin rebuilding after a devastating civil war.

The decision follows a major policy shift announced by Trump during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh in May, where Trump unexpectedly declared that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Syria.

According to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, the executive order will allow the U.S. to maintain sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s ousted former president, as well as his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, individuals linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS, and proxies for Iran.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the move, stating on social media platform X that it would “open the door of long-awaited reconstruction and development” and lift obstacles to economic recovery.

The White House, in a fact sheet, outlined that the order directs the Secretary of State to review the terrorism designations of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebel group with roots in al Qaeda, as well as Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The administration will continue to monitor Syria’s progress on key priorities, including normalizing ties with Israel, addressing foreign terrorists, deporting Palestinian terrorists, and banning Palestinian terrorist groups.

The dismantling of the U.S. sanctions program includes terminating a national emergency declared in 2004 and revoking linked executive orders. The executive order also directs additional actions, including waivers of export controls and other restrictions.

A Reuters investigation published on Monday revealed the role of Syrian government forces in the killing of more than 1,500 Syrian Alawites over three days of massacres along the country’s Mediterranean coast in March. The Trump administration had no comment on the report.

Syrians hope the easing of sanctions will encourage foreign investment and trade, as well as greater engagement by humanitarian organizations working in the country.