Syria welcomes the lifting of US sanctions

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday welcomed the United States’ permanent repeal of the so-called Caesar sanctions, saying the move would open the door for renewed investment in the war-torn country.

On Wednesday, the US Congress formally ended the sanctions imposed on Syria during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December last year.

The Caesar Act—named after an anonymous photographer who documented abuses in Assad’s prisons—had sharply curtailed foreign investment and effectively isolated Syria from the global banking system.

“Today marks the first day Syria is free from sanctions, thanks first to Almighty God, and then to your efforts and patience over the past 14 years,” Sharaa said in a recorded video message posted on his official X account.

He also expressed “special thanks” to US President Donald Trump “for responding to the call of the Syrian people,” and to members of Congress for acknowledging the sacrifices made by Syrians.

Trump had previously suspended the sanctions twice, following appeals from Saudi Arabia and Turkey—key allies of the new Syrian government led by Sharaa, a former jihadist. However, Sharaa had pressed for their permanent removal, warning that sanctions remaining on the books would continue to discourage businesses concerned about legal exposure in the United States.

Earlier on Friday, Syria’s foreign ministry welcomed the decision, describing it as “a gateway to the phase of reconstruction and development,” and called on “all Syrians at home and abroad to contribute to national recovery efforts.”