Provides a New Opportunity for Syria and Accountability for Bashar al Assad and His Supporters
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is taking action to implement President Trump’s historic Executive Order (E.O.) of June 30, 2025, “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions,” removing U.S. sanctions on Syria in support of the Syrian people and their new government as they rebuild their country and have the opportunity to become a stable and prosperous nation at peace with itself and its neighbors. Today’s E.O. revokes the Executive orders that previously placed comprehensive sanctions on Syria. The E.O. also ensures continued accountability for the Bashar al-Assad regime, expanding the national emergency declared in E.O. 13894 to allow for the continuation of sanctions against Bashar al-Assad, his associates, and other destabilizing regional actors.
Concurrent with the E.O.’s issuance, OFAC removed 518 individuals and entities from the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) sanctioned under the Syria sanctions program, lifting sanctions on individuals and entities critical to Syria’s development, the operation of its government, and the rebuilding of the country’s social fabric. OFAC also designated 139 individuals and entities affiliated with the previous regime under E.O. 13894, as further amended, as well as other Iran and Counter Terrorism authorities, ensuring continued accountability for the former al-Assad regime and its abuses.
The circumstances that gave rise to OFAC’s Syria sanctions program, related to the brutal former regime of Bashar al-Assad, have been transformed by developments over the past six months, including the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Today’s E.O. and actions by the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and Department of Commerce advance the U.S. government effort to remove the full architecture of sanctions imposed on Syria.
“In line with President Trump’s promise to deliver sanctions relief for Syria, today’s actions will help provide the country the opportunity to reestablish ties to global commerce and build international confidence,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “As we continue to monitor progress on the ground, we remain focused on preventing Assad, his cronies, terrorists, and other illicit actors from attempting to destabilize Syria and the region.”