U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Syria in Landmark Policy Shift, Paving the Way for Economic Recovery and Foreign Investment

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a historic turn in U.S. foreign policy, the United States officially lifted economic sanctions on Syria on Friday, signaling a sweeping reorientation in Washington's approach to the war-torn country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

The announcement, issued through a formal statement by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, declared the issuance of General License (GL) 25, a measure that effectively dismantles the entire sanctions regime previously imposed under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations.

“As President Trump promised, the Treasury Department and the State Department are implementing authorizations to encourage new investment into Syria,” Bessent said. “Syria must also continue to work towards becoming a stable country that is at peace, and today’s actions will hopefully put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.”

Caesar Act Waiver and Green Light for Investment

In parallel with the Treasury’s announcement, the U.S. State Department issued a waiver under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, thereby removing a major legal obstacle that had deterred foreign investors and regional governments from engaging in reconstruction or commercial ties with Syria.

According to the Treasury Department, GL 25 will authorize transactions across all sectors of the Syrian economy, while excluding entities and individuals affiliated with terrorism, human rights abuses, or the former Assad regime. The relief explicitly bars any financial benefit to Russia, Iran, or North Korea—key international backers of the deposed Syrian leadership.

The license enables:

• New investment in Syria;
• Provision of financial and other commercial services;
• Trade in Syrian-origin petroleum or petroleum products;
• Re-engagement with the Commercial Bank of Syria, facilitated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

A New Chapter for Syria

The U.S. statement emphasized that the Assad era has officially ended, and that sanctions relief is contingent on Syria’s continued progress toward stability, nonalignment with terror groups, and protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

“The Assad regime’s brutality against its own people and support for terrorism in the region has come to an end, and a new chapter unfolds for the Syrian people,” the Treasury’s statement read. “The U.S. is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors.”

GL 25 represents the first major implementation step following President Trump’s May 13 announcement to fully cease U.S. sanctions on Syria—a decision that sparked international attention and cautious optimism among stakeholders in Syria’s reconstruction process.

Regional and Global Implications

The lifting of sanctions is expected to unleash a wave of economic opportunities and reengagement by international actors, particularly in the infrastructure, energy, and financial sectors. The U.S. has underscored that this new policy aims to rebuild Syria's economy in line with American strategic interests, rather than allow adversarial powers to dominate the post-Assad recovery landscape.

Observers note that the sanctions relief comes at a critical moment for Syria, as the country seeks legitimacy, stability, and international backing in a complex regional environment. The measure is also expected to impact neighboring states, displaced populations, and reconstruction plans.