U.S. Eases Syria Sanctions for Six Months, Allowing Energy and Remittance Transactions

Jan 6, 2025, 07:02 PM

The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a six-month general license easing some sanctions on Syria to facilitate the provision of essential services and humanitarian aid following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The license authorizes transactions related to the sale, supply, storage, or donation of energy, including petroleum, natural gas, and electricity, as well as non-commercial personal remittances to Syria. This move aims to support the Syrian people during a transitional period, with the U.S. government continuing to monitor the situation. However, the license does not allow for any financial transfers to blocked persons under existing sanctions programs, including Assad and his associates, the Syrian Central Bank, and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).