White House executive order to lift broad Syria sanctions, State Department says

The White House will sign an executive order to terminate the U.S. sanctions program on Syria while keeping targeted sanctions in place against former President Bashar al-Assad, his associates and people linked to chemical weapons, terrorism and drug trafficking, a State Department spokesperson said Monday.

At a daily State Department press briefing, the spokesperson described the action as part of an effort “to promote and support the country's path towards stability and peace.” The spokesperson said Treasury and Commerce will lead implementation of the sanctions adjustments and that the State Department’s special envoy will be involved in diplomatic follow-up.

The spokesperson said the order “will remove sanctions on Syria while, maintaining sanctions on the former president Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS members and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies.” No statutory citations or specific Treasury implementation timelines were provided at the briefing.

Reporters asked what role the State Department will take after the order is signed. The spokesperson said Treasury handles the application of sanctions and that the department’s special envoy, Ambassador Barrick, will carry out diplomatic work to support stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Syria.

The briefing did not specify which Syrian entities or classes of transactions will be delisted, what steps, if any, would be required for U.S. persons to resume engagement, or any timeline for lifting particular measures. When asked whether Treasury or other agencies had ready guidance for businesses and humanitarian organizations affected by the change, the spokesperson referred questions to Treasury and Commerce.