The U.S. Condition for Easing Sanctions on Syria

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials have stated that President Donald Trump’s administration is proceeding cautiously regarding the potential easing of economic sanctions on Syria. This comes on the same day the European Union announced the lifting of certain restrictions on Damascus, particularly related to the banking and energy sectors.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, the U.S. administration believes that any such move would be contingent upon the formation of a more inclusive government in Damascus. The administration insists that the current regime should not benefit from any sanctions relief without genuine political reforms. As the sources put it, failing to implement real reforms would strengthen the power of a government dominated by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and other allied factions, rather than pushing for a comprehensive political solution.

The Biden administration had previously announced the easing of some restrictions on Damascus, but the new administration later halted this process.