Washington is relaxing sanctions and assigning a special envoy to Damascus to guide it toward the “greatness” promised by the US president.
The Trump administration is changing its Syria policy by easing sanctions and appointing a special envoy, following President Trump’s meeting with Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group with Al-Qaeda links, which led a coalition that ousted Bashar Assad last year.
“I will end sanctions against Syria to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said at a Riyadh investment forum last week, where he met al-Sharaa and hoped the new government would “succeed in stabilizing the country.”
On Friday, the US Treasury Department issued General License 25 (GL25), allowing transactions previously banned under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SSR). This lifts restrictions on dealings with Syria’s central government, including the Central Bank of Syria, state-owned banks, energy firms, telecommunications providers, and national carriers like Syrian Arab Airlines.
To manage Washington’s growing ties with Damascus, Trump appointed Tom Barrack, his ambassador to Turkey, as US Special Envoy for Syria. Barrack said the administration wants to “integrate Syria into a peaceful, cooperative Middle East,” and suggested reopening the US Embassy in Damascus was being considered.
While the sanctions relief is significant, most measures are temporary, with GL25 expiring in six months unless renewed. Congress must pass legislation to permanently repeal the Caesar Act and related sanctions imposed since Syria was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979.
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