The Trump administration announced on Friday the start of efforts to ease sanctions on Syria, signaling a significant shift in US policy after President Donald Trump pledged earlier this month during a Middle East visit to roll back these measures.
For months, Trump administration officials had been quietly engaging to prepare for sanctions relief aimed at supporting Syria’s recovery from years of devastating conflict and facilitating reconstruction following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
On Friday, the US Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing transactions involving Syria’s interim government, central bank, and state-owned enterprises, marking the first concrete step in easing economic restrictions.