U.S. Treasury Issues General License 25 To Immediately Ease Syria Sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department issued General License No. 25 for Syria to immediately ease sanctions, while U.S. State Department official said Secretary Marco Rubio issued a 180-day waiver of the sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Act.

The Treasury statement said General License No. 25 authorizes transactions that would be prohibited under the sanctions regulations on Syria, effectively lifting the sanctions imposed on it, and it added that the move would enable new investment opportunities and private-sector activities.

Al-Jazeera Net

The Qatar news agency said the general license authorized transactions involving the Syrian Interim Government, the Central Bank, and state-owned companies, and it explained that the license would enable a flow of new investments and new private-sector activities.

France 24 reported that Damascus welcomed Washington's formal lifting of the economic sanctions imposed on it, describing the move as 'a positive step in the right direction.'

The U.S. decision covered the new Syrian government on the condition that it does not provide a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of religious and ethnic minorities, according to سكاي نيوز عربية.

The U.S. Treasury statement also said the decision does not authorize transactions that benefit Russia, Iran, or North Korea, the principal backers of the former Assad regime, and it said the aim was to 'help rebuild Syria’s economy, financial sector, and infrastructure.'

CNN Arabic

The الشرق للأخبار said the license included lifting sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharā and Interior Minister Anas al-Khatab, as well as the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Airlines, and Radio and Television, and the ports of Latakia and Tartous.

In a post on X, Marco Rubio said lifting the sanctions is crucial for Syria to move forward, adding: “The United States issues waivers from the Caesar Act to increase investments and cash flows that will facilitate basic services and reconstruction in Syria.”

France 24 said the United States formally lifted the sanctions after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime, opening the door to new investments in the country that war has devastated, and it said Trump made the decision while in the Saudi capital Riyadh last week.

“Damascus welcomed Saturday Washington's formal lifting of the economic sanctions that had been imposed on it, describing the move as 'a positive step in the right direction”

France 24

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the decision issued by the American government to lift the sanctions that have been imposed on Syria and its people for many years and considers it a positive step in the direction of alleviating the humanitarian and economic suffering in the country.

Al-Jazeera Net reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani promised 'more successes' and said, 'We promise our people more successes in the coming months after the successive decisions to lift the sanctions.'

Al-Jazeera Net also said the first step of Syria sanctions relief is expected to begin on Friday or Tuesday, with Associated Press reporting that Trump advisers proposed exempting Syria from sanctions for six months as part of steps to lift them permanently.