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U.S. Sanctions on Syria lifted as part of Support for the People and the New Government
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on June 30, 2025, the implementation of an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump titled "Lifting Sanctions on Syria," which aims to end the sanctions program imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic.
This step comes within the framework of supporting the Syrian people and the new government, seeking to promote stability and development, and to rebuild relationships with the international community.
The decision removed many comprehensive restrictions and sanctions previously in place, while maintaining targeted accountability tools against the Bashar al-Assad regime. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) expanded the national emergency declared under Executive Order 13894 to ensure continued sanctions on Assad, his associates, and regional actors destabilizing the country.
In the same vein, the office announced the delisting of 518 individuals and entities from the "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List" (SDN List), to facilitate reconstruction efforts, enable the new Syrian government to perform its duties, and promote national reconciliation.
Conversely, 139 individuals and entities associated with the former regime were reclassified according to an amended version of Executive Order 13894, along with related individuals and entities connected to policies and sanctions related to other issues such as counter-terrorism and Iran, ensuring ongoing accountability and preventing impunity.
The Treasury clarified that the grounds for previous sanctions had changed due to significant developments in Syria over the past six months, especially following measures taken by the Syrian government led by the interim President Ahmad al-Shar'a. This warrants a reassessment of the sanctions and the creation of a legal and political environment conducive to national revitalization.
Commenting on the decision, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that this measure aligns with the Trump administration’s commitment to offer meaningful relief from sanctions, supporting Syria’s economic and social recovery efforts, restoring its integration into global trade networks, and rebuilding international investor confidence.
He emphasized that the Treasury will continue monitoring on-the-ground developments and internal progress, warning that any attempts to destabilize by remnants of the previous regime or regional allies will be firmly confronted using all legal tools available.
The department also reaffirmed that sanctions remain in place against Bashar al-Assad, his family, and his entities, as well as individuals involved in human rights violations, drug trafficking, terrorism financing, nuclear proliferation, or linked to Iran.
Under the new measures, OFAC removed all individuals and entities previously subject to Syria-related sanctions from the SDN list, effectively unfreezing their assets and financial holdings within the United States or those under U.S. control.
These actions preserve investigations and legal proceedings related to sanctions violations prior to July 1, 2025, which will continue until further notice.
Additionally, the reclassification included 139 individuals and entities across various categories: former officials of Assad’s regime, individuals acting on behalf of former officials, destabilizers of Syria, those involved in the production or distribution of captagon, regime supporters or persons linked to other entities, family members of sanctioned individuals, and entities or individuals tied to other legal frameworks.
