Trump Says He’s Lifting Sanctions on Syria

President Donald Trump has announced plans to lift all sanctions on Syria during a trip to the Middle East this week.

Quick Takes

Trump announced the complete lifting of US sanctions on Syria during his Middle East trip, calling it “a chance at greatness” for the post-Assad government.
The announcement of the sanctions removal follows the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the establishment of a new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other Arab nations pushed for Syria’s reintegration into the international community despite Israeli concerns about the new Islamist-led government.
The decision could unlock vital banking access and economic opportunities for Syria after 14 years of devastating war left 90% of its population in poverty.

Trump’s Move to End Syria’s Isolation

President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the diplomatic world Tuesday by announcing the complete lifting of all sanctions against Syria, marking a dramatic shift in US policy toward the war-ravaged nation. The announcement came during Trump’s three-day Middle East trip that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The move represents the first steps toward normalizing relations between the United States and Syria in over a decade, potentially opening the door for international investment and economic recovery in a country devastated by 14 years of brutal civil war.

“There’s a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilising the country and keeping peace,” Trump said in Saudi Arabia. He went on to say, “In Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing many years. That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade.”

US decision to lift sanctions on Syria: Here’s what you need to know https://t.co/CqzAJhJY1G

— Zicutake USA Comment (@Zicutake) May 13, 2025

Syria’s New Leadership and International Backing

The sanctions removal follows the dramatic overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the subsequent establishment of a transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump met directly with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia to discuss normalizing ties.

During the high-stakes meeting, Trump reportedly urged al-Sharaa to “deport Palestinian terrorists,” sign the Abraham Accords normalizing relations with Israel, assist in fighting Islamic State remnants, and properly handle Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. For their part, Syrian officials reportedly dangled access to oil resources, security reassurances for Israel, and even floated the possibility of a Trump Tower in Damascus.

Economic Revival Hopes Amid Devastation

The lifting of sanctions represents a potential lifeline for Syria’s collapsed economy. Under the previous sanctions regime, Syria was cut off from the international Swift banking system, crippling trade and making reconstruction efforts nearly impossible. With over 90% of Syrians living in poverty after years of conflict, sectarian violence, and terrorist insurgencies including ISIS’s 2014 takeover of large swaths of territory, access to international financial systems and investment is desperately needed for any meaningful recovery to begin.

News of the sanctions removal sparked jubilation in Damascus, with celebratory gatherings reported and social media videos circulating showing Syrians dancing alongside images of Trump. The economic opportunities are expected to attract investment particularly from Arab countries and Turkey, eager to participate in Syria’s reconstruction and gain influence in the post-Assad era. The United Nations, Red Cross, Arab League, and various NGOs had long advocated for sanctions relief, especially following the devastating 2023 earthquake that compounded Syria’s humanitarian crisis.

Concerns and Strategic Calculations

Israel has been less enthusiastic about the leadership change, expressing suspicion about the new Islamist-led government in Damascus, fearing that without the right safeguards, a strengthened Syria could once again become a threat to regional stability. The US State Department had reportedly prepared a 12-point list of conditions for ending sanctions, including protection of minority rights and allowing continued US strikes against terrorist targets. It remains unclear how many of these conditions were agreed to before Trump’s announcement.

The US had imposed sanctions on Syria in 2004 and expanded them in 2011 due to its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on uprisings. The decision to now lift these sanctions appears to be part of a larger strategic realignment in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia playing a central role.