President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that dismantles much of the long-standing sanctions program against Syria and directs a review of the terrorist designation of Ahmed al-Sharaa. The order, signed on Monday, eases broad financial restrictions while maintaining targeted sanctions against Assad and his former government, which was ousted by militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) last year. The executive order also instructs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reassess HTS’s status as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and al-Sharaa’s label as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Additionally, the U.S. will revisit Syria’s status as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a designation originally imposed in 1979.
The decision follows Trump’s May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, where discussions focused on Syria’s reconstruction and potential normalization of relations with Israel. Trump pledged to give the new leadership in Damascus a ‘chance at greatness.’ Thomas Barrack, his ambassador to Turkey and longtime confidant, has been appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria to oversee the growing ties with Damascus. Barrack drew a historical parallel between Syria’s political shift and the early years of American independence, comparing al-Sharaa to George Washington. This comparison has sparked debate among analysts, with some viewing it as an attempt to legitimize the new regime and others seeing it as a political move to gain favor with Syria’s allies.
Rubio previously warned that Syria has become a playground for jihadist groups, including ISIS, and acknowledged that the new Syrian leadership ‘didn’t pass their background check with the FBI.’ Despite these concerns, he insisted support for the new leadership is necessary to prevent wider regional instability. The U.S. aims to support a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors, according to Rubio’s statement on X. This policy shift has raised questions about the implications for regional security, as well as the potential for increased U.S. involvement in Syria’s political and economic affairs.