U.S., UAE Discuss Lifting Syria Sanctions if Assad Cuts Ties with Iran, Hezbollah

Dec 2, 2024, 01:01 PM

The United States and the United Arab Emirates have engaged in discussions about potentially lifting sanctions on Syria, contingent upon Syrian President Bashar al-Assad severing ties with Iran and halting weapons transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to five sources cited by Reuters. This initiative, which has not been previously reported, comes as the December 20 expiration of the Caesar Act sanctions approaches, providing leverage for the U.S. and UAE to press Assad for a change in his government's foreign policy.