“The Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the US government decision to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria… considering it as a positive step in the right direction to alleviate the humanitarian and economic suffering in the country,” the ministry said in a statement.
Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also hailed the decision, promising the Syrian people “further successes in the coming months.”
“Syria and its people deserve a great status, a prosperous country, and proper representation on the international stage,” he said on X.
On Friday, the US Treasury issued the Syria General License (GL) 25 to effectively lift all sanctions.
“GL 25 will enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with the President’s America First strategy,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.
The sanctions relief was granted on “the understanding that the country will not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and will ensure the security of its religious and ethnic minorities,” the Treasury added.
“As President Trump promised, the Treasury Department and the State Department are implementing authorizations to encourage new investment in Syria. Syria must also continue to work towards 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,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
US President Donald Trump, during a trip to the Middle East last week, announced his decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The next day, Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, expel all “foreign terrorists” from Syria, and cooperate with the US to prevent an Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Since taking office in January after toppling the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership in Damascus has made lifting international sanctions a top priority. While several countries have expressed openness to removing Assad-era restrictions, they have emphasized the need for the new leadership to meet critical benchmarks such as inclusive governance and fighting terrorism.
The European Union on Tuesday officially decided to lift its economic sanctions on Syria.
