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
Iranian Shura Council recommends the closure of the Hormuz Strait and leaves the decision up to the Iranian National Security Council.
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: As time passes, the people's solidarity increases, which is a divine blessing
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: The Iranian Revolution Guard Corps' aerospace operations will not stop
Russian Foreign Ministry: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi must ensure that an objective report is presented at the special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Russian Foreign Ministry: The UN Security Council must respond to the US attacks on Iran
Russian Foreign Ministry: We strongly condemn the US strikes on Iran, calling the decision irresponsible
Iranian Red Crescent: Three personnel martyred, 29 injured in Israeli aggression
IRGC: We have identified and monitored the departure points of the US aircraft that carried out the aggression
IRGC: America has neither the initiative nor the ability to escape the consequences of a powerful response
IRGC: We strongly affirm that Iran's peaceful nuclear technology cannot be destroyed by any attack

Internal debate in US over Trump's sanctions relief vow for Syria: AP

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Associated Press
  • 23 May 2025 15:33
4 Min Read

As Trump pushes to lift US sanctions on Syria, internal divisions emerge over how fast and under what conditions to proceed, with some figures urging a cautious, phased approach.

Listen
  • x
  • Internal debate in US over Trump's sanctions relief vow for Syria: AP
    A man fires into the air from one of the trucks carrying some of the 60 displaced families who, supported by an NGO, are returning to their village after more than five years in the Atmeh camps near the Syrian-Turkish border, in Kafr Sijna, south of Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 18, 2025 (AP)

US President Donald Trump’s push to end decades of US sanctions on Syria has ignited a growing debate within his administration over how quickly and under what conditions relief should be granted, the Associated Press reported.

The move comes in the wake of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the emergence of a transitional government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former militant commander with previous ties to al-Qaeda.

Trump has positioned the policy shift as an effort to prevent Syria from becoming a failed state and to support post-war reconstruction after a 13-year war that devastated the country’s economy and displaced millions.

Read more: UN hails Syria sanctions relief as ‘historic’ shift

Internal debate in the administration

Within the Trump administration, officials are split on how to implement Syria sanctions relief. Some argue for immediate executive action to waive or lift penalties without setting preconditions. Others favor a cautious, phased approach that would tie future relief to specific benchmarks.

A roadmap developed by the State Department’s policy and planning staff outlines three phases, AP cited a senior US official as saying. The first would offer short-term waivers, while subsequent stages would depend on progress, such as:

  • Removing "Palestinian terror groups" from Syrian territory
  • Securing Islamic State (ISIS) detainees through cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syria joining the "Abraham Accords" and normalizing relations with "Israel"
  • Confirming the destruction of the former government’s chemical weapons stockpile

Related News

UNHCR calls for more intl. support to accelerate Syria refugee returns

IOF storm al-Hurriya village in Quneitra

Critics say these conditions, particularly the first, are vague and difficult to verify, potentially stalling meaningful relief indefinitely.

Read more: 'Israel' retrieves executed spy Eli Cohen's belongings from Syria

The Caesar Act

While the US president can lift many sanctions via executive orders, more stringent congressional sanctions pose a tougher challenge. Chief among these is the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted in 2019 in response to alleged atrocities under al-Assad's regime. The law blocks most reconstruction aid and penalizes foreign investment in Syria.

Although the Caesar Act allows for 180-day waivers, the short timeline discourages investment due to the risk of reinstated penalties. Permanent relief would require legislative action, a far more complex and time-consuming process.

Syria’s transitional government, Western alignment

In recent testimony before Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for quick, incremental relief, warning that Syria’s new government could face collapse within weeks.

He acknowledged past concerns about al-Sharaa’s affiliation with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, originally linked to al-Qaeda, but emphasized that engagement offers the best chance to stabilize the country.

“If we engage them, it may work out, it may not work out,” Rubio said. “If we do not engage them, it is guaranteed not to work out.”

Senator Lindsey Graham echoed Rubio’s concerns during a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey. Both lawmakers expressed support for Trump’s push to ease sanctions but emphasized that permanent relief must be conditional on the new government's actions.

Al-Sharaa has pledged to build an inclusive and Western-aligned government. While the administration remains cautious due to the Syrian president's militant background, some in Washington argue that engaging the current leadership could prevent a resurgence of extremist groups like ISIS.

Next steps unclear

White House National Security Council spokesperson Max Bluestein confirmed that the administration is “analyzing the optimal way” to proceed and that a formal announcement is expected soon.

The outcome of these deliberations will shape not only US-Syria relations but also the broader future of stability in the region.

Read more: Trump Tower in Damascus: Inside Syria’s bold proposal

  • Syria
  • United States
  • US
  • Sanctions on Syria
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

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
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

  • Palestine
  • 18 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Iran demands urgent UN Security Council session over US airstrikes

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testifies before a hearing April 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
US & Canada

Trump aides pushed war on Iran with Mossad-fed intel, ignoring dissent

This photo released on Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)
Politics

Iran: Minor damage to nuclear sites after US attack, no radiation

The U.S. Capitol, on June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

US lawmakers condemn Trump’s strikes on Iran; MAGA base frustrated

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