Trump Signs Executive Order
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that dismantles the long-standing system of sanctions that the US has imposed on Syria. These sanctions were originally designed to penalize the previous Assad administration but have increasingly obstructed the nation’s recovery after years of conflict.
This move reflects a significant change in US policy towards Syria, influenced by Trump’s statement on May 13 regarding his plans to lift all sanctions and engage in dialogue with Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadi who became president after leading a rebel campaign that ended nearly 14 years of civil war.
During a conference call with reporters, Thomas Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria, described the executive order as “a comprehensive opportunity” aimed at rejuvenating Syria’s economy.
“However, it’s crucial to understand that neither the president nor the secretary of state are focused on nation-building,” Barrack noted. “They are signaling that they will offer you an opportunity.”
Earlier this month, Al-Monitor reported that the Trump administration was preparing an executive order meant to effectively remove layers of sanctions imposed on Syria by earlier administrations. This new order follows last month’s initial easing of some sanctions, which senior officials assert will foster essential long-term investments for reconstructing Syria.
The directive takes effect Tuesday and will revoke a national emergency declaration from 2004 concerning Syria while also nullifying five additional executive orders that underpinned the sanctions framework. It further instructs relevant agencies to implement necessary actions regarding waivers, export controls, and other restrictions related to Syria.
While retaining sanctions against former President Bashar al-Assad and his associates—along with individuals designated for human rights abuses or involvement in terrorism and drug trafficking—the order does not alter Syria’s classification as a state sponsor of terrorism established in 1979. This designation imposes limitations on US foreign assistance and bars defense exports to Syria. A senior official mentioned off-the-record that this classification is currently under review.
The executive order also requires Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reevaluate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s status as a Foreign Terrorist Organization due to its historical connections with al-Qaeda. This Islamist militant group has controlled Idlib province for several years and has previously engaged both ISIS and Hurras al-Din—an affiliate of al-Qaeda—before playing a key role in ousting Assad.
The new Syrian government comprises various technocrats and representatives from minority communities; however, many critical ministries are led by figures associated with HTS. An official indicated common interests between this government and efforts against ISIS and Iranian proxies.
Caesar Act Sanctions Remain in Place
The order directs actions from the State Department concerning counterterrorism designations related to HTS while underscoring mutual interests in combating ISIS and Iranian influence.
Existing extensive congressional sanctions aimed at isolating the Assad regime—known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act—remain enforced. Recently, Trump’s administration granted a six-month waiver for these Caesar sanctions along with a general license allowing transactions otherwise prohibited under these measures involving Syria’s central bank and state-owned entities.
Additionally, the executive order assigns Rubio with evaluating whether Caesar sanctions can be partially or fully suspended if specific conditions are met.
Bipartisan members of Congress have introduced legislation aimed at repealing the Caesar Act. Its potential repeal is expected to be incorporated as an amendment within this year’s National Defense Authorization Act according to information from a congressional aide.
