U.S. Pauses Caesar Act sanctions on Syria for Six Months
This latest suspension supersedes a waiver dated May 23 that similarly provided a six-month exemption from mandatory Caesar Act restrictions. The move signals "our commitment to continued sanctions relief for Syria," the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated in its official advisory.
Under the new framework, Caesar Act enforcement has been paused across most sectors—with critical exceptions. Transactions involving Moscow or Tehran's governments remain prohibited, as do any transfers of Russian- or Iranian-sourced goods, technology, software, capital, or financial services, the advisory clarifies.
OFAC emphasized that punitive measures continue targeting what it described as "the worst of the worst," specifically former President Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle. Meanwhile, Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) classification remains under active government review.
"The United States remains committed to supporting a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria," the Treasury advisory declared.
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted in 2019, served as Washington's primary leverage mechanism against Assad's regime until its collapse last December—a watershed moment that terminated the Baath Party's 62-year stranglehold on power dating back to 1963. These sanctions effectively barred international capital flows and commercial dealings with Damascus and its affiliated entities.
The timing of this policy adjustment aligns with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's unprecedented diplomatic mission to Washington—the first visit by a Syrian head of state since the nation secured sovereignty in 1946.
In parallel developments, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued his own statement confirming he authorized the suspension of mandatory Caesar Act sanctions based on Damascus's post-Assad governmental reforms.
"The suspension of Caesar Act sanctions supports Syria's efforts to rebuild its economy, restore ties with foreign partners, and foster prosperity and peace for all its citizens," he noted.
Rubio stressed that President Donald Trump has made clear Washington anticipates "concrete actions" from Syrian authorities to definitively break from the past and advance regional stability.
Trump initiated the sanctions-lifting process after his May meeting with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, where he publicly announced the policy reversal before formalizing it through executive order in June that eliminated comprehensive US restrictions.
The US State Department reinforced support for Damascus's new leadership by rescinding the Foreign Terrorist Organization classification of the al-Nusrah Front, also identified as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in July. Additionally, officials removed Sharaa from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist registry on November 7.
Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Washington, DC.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
