US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order permanently lifting most US sanctions on Syria, marking a pivotal moment in the administration’s broader strategy to stabilize the Middle East and advance regional diplomacy.
The executive action rescinds five prior orders that formed the core of the Syria sanctions program and instructs federal agencies to begin waiving additional restrictions enforced through congressional mandates, export controls, and other mechanisms, according to senior administration officials.
The move fulfills a commitment Trump made during a May visit to Saudi Arabia, where he pledged to eliminate sanctions on Syria — a demand backed by both Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, who view it as essential to Syria’s post-war reconstruction and reintegration into the regional economy.
Preliminary guidance issued in late May had already eased many restrictions, but Monday’s order now formalizes the shift and makes the sanctions relief permanent.
The directive also calls on government agencies to review sanctions that the president cannot unilaterally repeal, such as those under the Caesar Act, which require congressional approval, and to examine the process for lifting Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The administration is also exploring the possibility of removing the terrorist designation on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The US has maintained some form of sanctions on Syria since 1979, initially over its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. These sanctions were significantly expanded in 2004 and again in 2011, when the Obama administration imposed sweeping penalties in response to former President Bashar al-Assad’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
However, the political landscape in Syria has shifted dramatically since the fall of Assad’s regime in December. Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamist militant, now heads a transitional government aiming to move the country away from decades of authoritarian rule.
The Trump administration says the decision to ease sanctions has broad backing from humanitarian organizations and civil society groups, which argue that the punitive measures have obstructed efforts to restore vital infrastructure and attract foreign investment for rebuilding after more than 13 years of conflict.
Sanctions will remain in place against Assad, his inner circle, and actors deemed to be destabilizing the region, along with restrictions targeting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, officials confirmed.
US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the policy change as a “blanket opportunity” to jumpstart Syria’s economy and reintegrate the nation without imposing rigid conditions.
Rather than dictate terms, Barrack said, the administration aims to foster an environment conducive to economic development and eventual participation in initiatives like the Abraham Accords — the US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab states.
According to a senior official, earlier efforts to tie sanctions relief to specific benchmarks were ineffective. “The way to draw them into the Abraham Accords is through economic opportunity, civil cooperation, and peace — and we believe this approach will deliver that,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
