President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order lifting the majority of U.S. sanctions on Syria dating back to the 1970s, marking a significant move toward restoring ties and offering the war-ravaged nation a path to normalization with the West.
The move reflects a recognition of recent positive developments in Syria, including the rise of a new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which the U.S. deems a significant departure from the policies of former leader Bashar al-Assad.
However, the easing of restrictions is not unconditional. The Trump administration has made clear that continued relief depends on Syria excluding foreign militants from governance and cooperating with global counterterrorism efforts. Sanctions will remain in place for individuals linked to the Assad regime, terrorist groups, or ongoing human rights abuses.
Israel is maintaining communication with Syria through at least four distinct channels: National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Mossad Director David Barnea, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar—who leads political and strategic dialogue—and the IDF, which handles routine military coordination. But Israeli officials want the United States to play a more active mediating role, arguing that U.S. involvement would give Syria’s new government greater incentive to engage in meaningful dialogue.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision aims to “promote and support Syria’s path toward stability and peace.”
Brad Smith, the Treasury Department’s acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, told reporters during a briefing that the executive order is intended to “end Syria’s isolation from the international financial system,” paving the way for renewed global trade and investment. “This step creates an opportunity for regional neighbors—and the United States—to reengage economically and help rebuild a more stable and prosperous Syria,” he added.
The order terminates multiple executive orders dating back to 2004 and lifts sanctions targeting the Syrian government, while explicitly excluding relief for terrorists, human rights violators, or those tied to chemical weapons or narcotics trafficking. It also provides new waivers under the Caesar Act and the Syria Accountability Act, and suspends several sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Act, citing a “fundamental change” in Syrian leadership and policy.
Simultaneously, the order expands sanctions targeting individuals connected to Assad-era abuses, trafficking of the drug Captagon (the brand name for fenethylline), or obstruction of Syria’s political transition. It directs the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to implement regulatory changes and coordinate with the UN to align sanctions relief with counterterrorism and nonproliferation goals.
The order also mandates an ongoing review of Syria’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation and reaffirms U.S. support for a unified, peaceful Syria free from extremist threats.
On May 23, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued General License 25, authorizing transactions with Syria’s new government, the Syrian Central Bank, and several state-owned enterprises. The move marked a pivotal step in reengaging with Syrian institutions under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a 180-day waiver of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enabling new investments and humanitarian projects in essential sectors such as water, electricity, and sanitation. The Caesar Act, enacted in 2019, was named after a Syrian military defector who exposed atrocities committed in Assad’s prisons. It had served as a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to isolate Damascus by penalizing entities supporting the Assad regime and deterring post-war reconstruction that could reinforce his rule.
Rubio emphasized that the waiver does not repeal the Caesar Act but temporarily suspends its enforcement. This allows international actors to engage in Syria’s rebuilding process without fear of U.S. sanctions.
