The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is removing the Syrian Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations following the termination of the national emergency and policy changes towards Syria under its new government, the Treasury announced on August 25.

According to documents reviewed by IntelliNews, US President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14312 on June 30, 2025, revoking Syria sanctions and terminating the national emergency declared in 2004.

The president found that circumstances justifying the original sanctions, related to former president Bashar al-Assad's regime, had been transformed by developments over the six months preceding June 30, including positive actions by Syria's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom he had previously met with earlier this year.

The original sanctions were imposed through Executive Order 13338 in May 2004, citing Syria's support for terrorism, occupation of Lebanon, weapons programmes and undermining of Iraq's stabilisation efforts.

OFAC issued the Syrian Sanctions Regulations in April 2005 to implement the executive order, with subsequent amendments expanding the sanctions regime through multiple executive orders.

Executive Order 14312 aims to remove sanctions on Syria whilst maintaining measures against the Islamic State, terrorist organisations, human rights abusers and those linked to chemical weapons or proliferation activities.

The Treasury said certain previously sanctioned persons have been redesignated under amended Executive Order 13894, which targets those contributing to Syria's situation.

OFAC intends to rename existing regulations as the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilisation Sanctions Regulations in a separate rulemaking.

"On June 30, the President issued an Executive Order "Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions" that removes US sanctions on Syria, effective July 1, 2025, according to the mailer by OFAC seen by IntelliNews. 

Following the US announcement, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the step would contribute to facilitating commercial and financial movement, lifting restrictions on American exports to Syria.

"The Syrian Arab Republic believes that the coincidence of this decision with the visit of the second official Syrian delegation from the US Congress to Damascus carries important significance for opening a new page of bilateral relations based on mutual respect and dialogue," the ministry said in the statement.

In the government notice, it was reported that al-Sharaa received the second official delegation from the US Congress in the capital Damascus, consisting of senators and representatives from both parties, the ministry said. The delegation was accompanied by Thomas Rask, the US President's special envoy, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

"The delegation held meetings with President al-Sharaa in the presence of ministers of defence, interior affairs, social affairs and labour, where discussions covered ways to strengthen bilateral relations and open new horizons for cooperation between the two countries," the ministry said.