Washington, July 1 (V7N) — US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting most sanctions on Syria, marking a significant shift in American foreign policy and opening the door for Syria’s reintegration into the international financial system.

The decision, announced on Monday (July 1) local time, aims to support Syria’s reconstruction efforts after years of civil war and fulfill Washington’s earlier pledge to aid the country’s recovery.

White House spokesperson Carolyn Leavitt said sanctions would remain in place against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, individuals linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS, and Iranian proxies. Assad was forced to step down last December following an Islamist-led rebel offensive.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Sheibani welcomed the move, saying on X (formerly Twitter) that lifting the sanctions would “open the door to the hoped-for reconstruction and development” and remove key obstacles to economic recovery.

The executive order also tasks the US Secretary of State with reviewing the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria’s listing as a terrorist state.

US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack described the decision as “the culmination of a very difficult, detailed and complex process,” adding, “Syria needed to be given a chance, and that’s what happened.”

While Europe has already lifted its economic sanctions on Syria, some members of the US Congress are now pushing for a complete rollback. The White House stressed that Washington will continue monitoring Syria’s progress on normalizing ties with Israel, expelling foreign terrorists, and banning Palestinian militant groups.

Although key legal restrictions such as the Caesar Act remain in force, the administration said it would now consider criteria for their suspension to encourage long-term investment.

The lifting of sanctions is expected to make it easier for humanitarian organizations to operate in Syria and encourage foreign trade and investment as the nation looks to rebuild.

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