Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli Channel 12: Shipping giant Maersk announces stop of shipping to Haifa Port on account of Iranian missiles.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 25 martyrs, more than 120 injured by Israeli occupation fire targeting aid seekers at Netzarim Axis, Gaza.
Iran's Nour News: Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Iran's Leader, in letter to Sayyed Khamenei: I am alive and ready to sacrifice my life; the day of victory draws near.
Iranian Red Crescent: Five Iranian hospitals damaged in Israeli aggression.
Russia: Peskov: If the United States launches a strike against Iran, Moscow will consider this move a mistake because it will lead to a major escalation of the situation
Russia: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: The Middle East is falling into the chaos of war, and this does not bring any good to Russia and is dangerous
Israeli media: 18 settlers were injured in the latest Iranian strike, according to preliminary reports
Israeli media: The Iranian missile impacted an area near the headquarters of Microsoft in Bir al-Sabee'
Israeli media: Sirens sounding in al-Naqab following missile launches from Iran
Israeli Home Front Command: Missiles detected launched from Iran toward al-Naqab

US to ease Syria sanctions, offer 180-day waivers: Rubio

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 May 2025 22:27
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The United States is working with Congress to slowly overturn 2019 sanctions on Syria, starting with 180-day waivers to facilitate humanitarian aid, says Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Listen
  • x
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to speeches during a NATO's informal meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025 (AP)
    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to speeches during a NATO's informal meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP)

The United States plans to collaborate with Congress to slowly overturn the 2019 sanctions legislation targeting Syria, and in the meantime, it is implementing 180-day waivers to ease the delivery of humanitarian aid into the country.

"Ultimately, if we make enough progress, we'd like to see the law [the Caesar Act] repealed. We're not there yet. That's premature," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday in Turkey, adding that, "I think we want to start with the initial [180-day] waiver, which will allow foreign partners, who wanted to flow in aid, to begin to do so without running the risk of sanctions."

"I think as we make progress, hopefully we'll be in a position sooner, one day, to go to Congress and ask them to permanently remove the sanctions," Rubio highlighted.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also highlighted that Syria now faces a choice between pursuing a "major transformation" in the region or risking a "brutal civil war" that could destabilize the Middle East, while emphasizing that the United States favors the first option.

Related News

Trump admin may expand travel ban to 36 nations

US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

"There are two routes here. One will be success, and we will have a major transformation in the region, or you are going to have a brutal civil war that will destabilize the region. We would prefer the former, not the latter," Rubio said, talking to reporters in Antalya.

Trump lifts sanctions on Syria in Saudi Arabia

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, publicly announced that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria, a decision made at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

This announcement came just before the US-Gulf summit held in Riyadh, signaling a shift in US policy toward Syria and the broader Middle East. Trump had previously expressed concerns over the lack of progress in Syria's peace process, but this move is seen as a step toward facilitating dialogue and improving regional stability.

Trump’s talks with Syria’s interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, prior to the summit, marked a critical moment in US-Syria relations. The discussions focused on Syria’s future and the importance of international cooperation in rebuilding the country. With the backing of Saudi Arabia, one of the most influential countries in the region, this move could help bring Syria back into the fold of regional politics, after years of isolation.

According to Time magazine, the sanctions to be lifted, some of which have been in place since 1979, have included measures such as freezing Syrian assets, banning petroleum imports, and isolating the country from the global economy.

However, certain restrictions, particularly those under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, remain in place and will require Congressional approval to be fully lifted, according to Time.

  • Marco Rubio
  • Syria
  • United States
  • Sanctions on Russia

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Netanyahu stuns by postponing son’s wedding over Iran war
Politics

Netanyahu sparks outrage citing son’s wedding delay as Iran war cost

French court postpones verdict to July 17 on Georges Abdallah
Europe

French court postpones verdict on Georges Abdallah to July 17

Perseverance to shorten war: Iran's Larijani
Politics

Larijani says Iran to hold IAEA chief accountable after war ends

Damage to the Weizmann Institute of Science from an Iranian missile strike in Rehovot, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Politics

'Catastrophic loss': Iranian blow to Weizmann’s war-linked facilities

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS