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Congress Moves Closer to Lifting Sanctions on Syria in a Rare Bipartisan Agreement with the Trump Administration
It appears that the political horizon is opening a new chapter in relations with Syria, as Congress is expected to pass a bill that would end the extensive economic sanctions imposed on the country—an uncommon consensus between Democrats and the administration of former President Donald Trump. However, lawmakers face a significant obstacle: the need to resolve disagreements over the details of the annual defense policy bill, which includes a version of the National Defense Authorization Act, with the Senate and House of Representatives diverging on the issue of terminating the Caesar Act.
In this context, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen emphasized that "Iran is nearly out of Syria, after previously seeking to arm Hezbollah through Lebanon," and noted that "Russian influence is in a massive decline." She explained that these developments represent a doubled opportunity for the United States—if it helps Syria achieve stability and access what it needs—creating a chance to end Iran and Russia's influence in the region.
Former President Donald Trump has expressed support for efforts to repeal the Caesar Act and earlier met with Syria’s new President, Ayman al-Sharaa, who was previously a member of Al-Qaeda before being cleared of any terror ties. Nevertheless, doubts remain about the extent of Sharaa’s commitment to his promises to ensure Syria’s stability.
Shaheen also pointed out Sharaa’s pledge to help end Iranian arms smuggling into Lebanon but stressed the importance of building trust between the two sides. She said, “Sharaa says all the right things, and he has taken positive steps, but the task remains huge,” praising recent developments which she views as an opportunity to achieve stability—something that has been absent for decades.
