2025-09-25T22:24:57+00:00

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Shafaq News – Washington

US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack confirmed on Thursday that
lifting sanctions on Damascus will be a gradual process, emphasizing that real
progress depends on the credibility of the new government.

Speaking with Shafaq News, Barrack explained that the sanctions
framework—covering the Caesar Act, a US law targeting Syria for war-related
human rights violations, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions
Act (CAATSA), which restricts dealings with states considered threats to US
security, and measures linked to the F-35 fighter jet program that limit
military sales and cooperation with sanctioned states—requires close
coordination between Congress and the White House. He acknowledged that a
breakthrough remains possible, but underlined that in Washington, such steps
rarely move quickly.

Sanctions initially designed to target the al-Assad government now
prevent the new authorities from demonstrating credibility, according to Barrack.
The leadership, which replaced former President Bashar al-Assad after his
ouster in December 2024, lacks the resources to meet even basic obligations
such as paying civil servants, he explained, adding, “Although Qatar has
pledged financial support, banks cannot transfer the money without violating
restrictions.”

The Caesar Act, he confirmed, continues to discourage investors,
since exemptions lasting only 180 days do not provide the stability needed to
attract large-scale commitments, leaving businesses wary of sudden policy
reversals. The envoy highlighted ongoing efforts with Congress to “build trust”
and create conditions for American, European, and Gulf partners to assist the
Syrian government.

Read more: Beyond Sanctions: New chapter for Syria, new opportunities for Iraq

Sanctions on Syria were first imposed in 1979 and expanded
significantly after the outbreak of war in 2011, restricting the al-Assad
regime over widespread alleged abuses. Following al-Assad’s fall last year, the
new leadership called for relief, prompting the US Department of State in May 2025
to issue a 180-day exemption under the Caesar Act. The measure eased
restrictions on several Syrian institutions in line with President Donald
Trump’s pledge to support stability and encourage investment, while ensuring
that no benefit would reach entities linked to terrorism or the former regime.

For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington, D.C.