U.S. Mulls Easing Syria Penalties Under Trump Administration

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U.S. Mulls Easing Syria Penalties Under Trump Administration \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration is preparing a six-month waiver on key sanctions against Syria to support its interim government following Assad’s fall. Officials say further economic relief may follow if conditions are met. The move has sparked internal debate over how fast and how far to go.

Quick Looks

Initial Relief Expected: A six-month sanctions waiver could be announced soon.
Economic Opening: Treasury rules may expand to allow more foreign business.
Long-Term Sanctions: Congressional measures like the Caesar Act remain a barrier.
Security Conditions Debated: Future waivers may require Syria to meet U.S. demands.
Political Shifts in Syria: Interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa seen as key to stability.
Internal Division: Trump advisers split between rapid relief and phased approach.
Regional Pressure: Israel and U.S. lawmakers cautious about easing restrictions.
Risk Factors: Terror designations and lack of clear governance pose hurdles.

Deep Look

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving toward its first step in lifting decades-old sanctions against Syria, according to three U.S. officials, by granting a temporary six-month waiver on one of the most restrictive sanction regimes in place. The move is part of Trump’s public pledge last week to begin dismantling the U.S. economic blockade on Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the rise of a fragile interim leadership.

This would mark a historic policy shift, intended to give Ahmad al-Sharaa’s transitional government a fighting chance to govern, rebuild, and avoid falling into the kind of chaos that plagued post-conflict Iraq and Libya. Trump called the initiative a “cessation of sanctions” during a speech in Saudi Arabia, stirring excitement in Damascus, where civilians reportedly took to the streets in celebration.

Yet, what Trump described as a sweeping rollback of sanctions appears, at least initially, to be far more measured — and subject to internal debate.

Initial Sanctions Waiver and Business Rule Adjustments

The expected move involves granting a 180-day waiver on a particularly harsh set of sanctions enacted by Congress in 2018. In tandem, the Treasury Department may broaden the scope of permitted foreign commercial activity, allowing non-U.S. companies to begin operating within Syria’s limited financial and infrastructure networks.

However, this is not a full repeal. Officials emphasized that many layers of sanctions — including those passed by Congress, imposed by executive orders, and authorized under UN Security Council resolutions — will remain intact.

“The Syria sanctions are a complex web… they must be unwound cautiously,” said Max Bluestein, a spokesperson for the National Security Council.

Balancing Act: Speed vs. Conditions

The internal divide in the administration is growing sharper. One camp, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, supports rapid action to stabilize Syria’s government and prevent its collapse. Rubio warned lawmakers that Syria could slide into “a full-scale civil war of epic proportions” within weeks if aid and access are delayed.

Still, Rubio emphasized the need for a phased approach, calling sanctions relief “incremental.” A three-phase roadmap floated by State Department staff lays out an initial relief period, followed by stricter benchmarks for longer-term economic normalization.

Among the proposed conditions for additional relief:

Expulsion of foreign extremist groups, including “Palestinian terror factions.”
Assumption of custody over ISIS detainees.
Integration of Kurdish forces into Syria’s formal military.
Recognition of Israel via the Abraham Accords.
Verification of chemical weapons stockpile destruction.

Each of these conditions presents unique diplomatic and operational challenges, particularly the first. Classifying and removing “Palestinian terror groups” is legally and politically complex, and such a demand could stall progress indefinitely.

A Controversial Leader at the Helm

Ahmad al-Sharaa, the transitional leader who helped oust Assad, previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group once affiliated with al-Qaida. Though the group later renounced terrorism and repositioned itself politically, it remains designated as a terrorist organization under U.S. law — complicating efforts to grant direct aid or invest without exemptions.

Nonetheless, some U.S. officials argue al-Sharaa’s government represents the best hope for stabilizing Syria, restoring infrastructure, and preventing a resurgence of groups like ISIS.

“If we engage, it may work. If we don’t, failure is certain,” said Rubio.

Economic Realities and Legislative Hurdles

Syria’s postwar economy is in ruins. Over 90% of the population lives below the poverty line, and rebuilding is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. Investors, however, remain hesitant, especially with restrictive legislation like the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act still in force.

That law, passed in 2019, was designed to penalize any entity involved in postwar reconstruction without U.S. approval. Though Trump can waive it for 180 days, the risk of its sudden reinstatement may deter long-term investment.

Regional Politics and Israeli Concerns

Israel has expressed skepticism toward the new Syrian leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly lobbied against lifting sanctions, concerned about regional stability and Iranian influence in a post-Assad Syria. Israeli forces have continued to launch airstrikes against targets in Syria, particularly in the Golan Heights buffer zone now under Israeli control.

While Syria’s interim leaders say they seek no confrontation with Israel, their standing with Western allies — and especially Congress — may depend on public gestures of normalization, including potential participation in the Abraham Accords.

Strategic Timing and Political Stakes

With presidential elections on the horizon, Trump’s foreign policy pivot on Syria could be framed as a bold peace-first strategy — or as a reckless engagement with a formerly hostile regime. Much will depend on how the early stages of sanctions relief unfold, and whether violence or political instability resurfaces.

“This is a moment to offer capability with conditions,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who met with Syrian leaders last week.

If successful, Trump’s Syria reset could provide a rare foreign policy win. If it backfires, critics will say it empowered extremist elements and undermined U.S. influence in the Middle East.