Lifting US sanctions on Syria addressed by Prof. William Lawrence: Al Mayadeen exclusive

In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Political Science and International Affairs Professor William Lawrence highlighted the complexities of lifting US and European sanctions on Syria, emphasizing that unwinding them is as challenging as imposing them, particularly from the bureaucratic and political aspect. He explained that sanctions often remain due to unresolved issues, such as arms transfers or criminal activities, which initially justified their implementation. While some sanctions, like the $10 million bounty on the de facto leader, have been removed, many others are deeply entrenched in bureaucratic and political systems. Lawrence noted that "a simple removal of the regime is not enough," as sanctions require extensive justification to be lifted, a process that can take years. According to Lawrence, "symbolically important" sanctions are likely to be removed first.