Trump administration issues 180-day sanctions waiver to support Syria's rebuilding after Assad regime collapse.

U.S. Waives Sanctions to Facilitate Stabilization in Post-Assad Syria

The Trump administration on Friday announced a significant policy shift by granting a 180-day sanctions waiver to Syria, aimed at supporting its new leadership in post-war reconstruction efforts. The decision marks a departure from decades of sanctions against the former Assad regime and comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to stabilize the region.

Known as General License 25 (GL 25), the waiver lifts key financial restrictions to enable investment and humanitarian efforts in critical sectors such as energy, electricity, water, and sanitation. The move is expected to provide the foundation for economic recovery following 13 years of civil war and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

“As President Trump promised, the Treasury Department and the State Department are implementing authorizations to encourage new investment into Syria,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated. “Today’s actions will hopefully put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the relief package is conditional. Syria’s new government must avoid offering safe haven to terrorist groups and must protect religious and ethnic minorities to retain access to the waiver’s benefits. Rubio added, “President Trump is providing the Syrian government with the chance to promote peace and stability, both within Syria and in Syria’s relations with its neighbors.”

New U.S. Envoy to Syria and Regional Cooperation

Alongside the announcement, the administration named Tom Barrack as the new U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. Barrack, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and as a senior advisor to President Trump, emphasized that lifting the sanctions would help secure long-term U.S. strategic goals, particularly the defeat of ISIS.

“The cessation of sanctions against Syria will preserve the integrity of our primary objective — the enduring defeat of ISIS — and will give the people of Syria a chance for a better future,” Barrack posted on X. He underscored the importance of collaboration with regional partners including Türkiye and the Gulf states in fostering peace and reconstruction.

Friday’s policy shift comes after the fall of Assad’s government during a major rebel offensive. Assad, whose decades-long rule was backed by Russia and Iran, fled to Moscow with his family, marking the end of an authoritarian era that defined Syria’s recent history.

Despite the waiver, the U.S. maintains restrictions on any Syrian transactions that could benefit Russia, Iran, North Korea, or former regime loyalists. The waiver is intended strictly for humanitarian and development purposes aligned with U.S. interests and strategic security concerns.

While the move was welcomed by humanitarian groups and international observers, implementation and compliance will be closely monitored over the next six months. U.S. officials indicated that future extensions or revocations of the waiver would depend on measurable progress by Syrian authorities in meeting policy benchmarks.

The waiver represents a pivotal moment in U.S.-Syria relations, signaling a willingness to re-engage with a nation long isolated under sanctions, while also setting strict terms to ensure that support is directed toward peaceful, inclusive, and democratic reconstruction.