Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that there are expectations for near-term exemptions from the US administration regarding the sanctions imposed on Syria, which may be announced by President Donald Trump.
Bruce added during her press briefing that the United States currently does not intend to lift sanctions on Syria; however, she indicated that there could be facilitations concerning financial transfers.
Bruce mentioned that Washington is monitoring the actions of the new Syrian administration as it defines its policies towards the government in Damascus. She expressed concern that the constitution announced by the new administration grants the president broad powers.
Washington reiterated its call for Damascus to form an inclusive government led by civilians in Syria. According to Bruce, the call for a civilian-led inclusive government continues, one that can ensure that national institutions are effective, responsive, and representative.
The US position remains ambiguous regarding the new Syrian administration, and official statements from Damascus suggest it is open to communication with Washington.
Damascus has constantly called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria since the era of the previous regime and its ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
The US, followed by Europe, imposed sanctions on the former Syrian regime due to its practices against opponents following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
US sanctions are considered a benchmark for the sanctions imposed by other countries on Syria, particularly those by the European Union, with both sides linking the lifting of sanctions to the actions of the new administration.
The US Treasury Department issued exemptions on January 6, aimed at facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria for a period of six months while monitoring developments on the ground.
The department stated that its Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License No. “24” for Syria in order to expand the range of permits for activities and transactions in Syria after December 8, 2024.
This measure underscores Washington’s commitment to ensuring that US sanctions do not hinder activities aimed at meeting basic humanitarian needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian aid.
For its part, the European Union announced the suspension of sanctions on the oil and transport sectors, the removal of five entities subject to asset freezes, and the provision of financial and humanitarian exemptions.
This decision came during a session of the European Union on February 24, and it included the suspension of sanctions in the transport and energy sectors, including oil, gas, and electricity.
The EU also removed five entities from its asset freeze lists, namely: the Industrial Bank, the Popular Credit Bank, the Savings Bank, the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and Syrian Arab Airlines, and allowed the provision of funds and economic resources to the Syrian Central Bank.