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U.S. official says sanctions relief, envoy talks aim to open investment in Syria
Summary
A staff member said the U.S. has taken steps including a special envoy appointment, a 180‑day waiver of Caesar Act sanctions and Treasury General License 25 to encourage investment in Syria and support the campaign to defeat ISIS.
A staff member said the U.S. has taken multiple steps to ease sanctions on Syria and to promote investment there, including naming a special envoy and issuing Treasury relief measures.
The staff member said U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrick assumed the role of U.S. special envoy to Syria and met in Istanbul with Syrian President Ahmad al Sharra and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al Shibani. The staff member said the State Department waived Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days and the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued General License 25 and other relief measures.
The remarks said the United States is "engaging with regional and global partners to open investment in Syria," and that the cessation of some sanctions ‘‘will advance our primary objective, the enduring defeat of ISIS by giving the people of Syria a chance for a better future.'' The staff member added, "The United States will remain focused on the mission to defeat ISIS and eliminating terrorists who threaten Americans."
The comments did not specify which regional or global partners would be involved, the particular investment projects envisioned, or an implementation timeline. They also did not provide documentation of or cite the specific administrative authority used for the 180‑day waiver.
No formal action or vote was recorded in the remarks; the transcript presented these as statements of policy direction rather than as statutory changes or legally binding approvals.
