U.S. has outlined conditions for Syria to partially ease sanctions, sources say

The United States has presented Syria with a set of conditions that must be met for partial relief from sanctions, as reported by six individuals familiar with the situation. One key requirement is that foreign nationals should not hold senior positions in the Syrian government. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria, Natasha Franceschi, conveyed these demands to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani during a face-to-face meeting at a donor conference for Syria in Brussels on March 18. This meeting marked the first significant direct engagement between Damascus and Washington since President Donald Trump took office on January 20.

The details of the list and the meeting had not been disclosed prior to this report. Reuters gathered information from six sources, including two U.S. officials, a Syrian insider, a regional diplomat, and two individuals in Washington, all of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

Among the U.S. conditions are the complete destruction of any remaining chemical weapons in Syria and collaboration on counter-terrorism efforts, as confirmed by the U.S. officials, the Syrian source, and the Washington contacts. Another stipulation is the assurance that foreign fighters will not be placed in prominent roles within Syria’s governance, according to the U.S. officials and one Washington source.

Syria has already appointed several foreign former rebels, including individuals from the Uyghur community, Jordan, and Turkey, to its defense ministry, which has raised concerns among other nations. Additionally, Washington has requested that Syria designate a liaison to aid in the search for Austin Tice, the American journalist who has been missing in Syria for over ten years, as stated by the two U.S. officials and the Washington sources.

Syria’s foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department did not provide comments when approached for their perspectives. The country is in urgent need of relief from sanctions to revive an economy that has been devastated by nearly 14 years of conflict. During this period, the United States, the U.K., and European nations imposed stringent sanctions on individuals, businesses, and entire sectors of Syria’s economy in an effort to pressure the now-ousted leader, Bashar al-Assad.

While some sanctions have been temporarily lifted, the impact has been minimal. In January, the U.S. issued a six-month general license aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid, but this measure was deemed insufficient for Qatar to finance public sector salaries through Syria’s central bank. Syrian officials, including Shibani and interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, have urged for a complete removal of sanctions, arguing that it is unfair to maintain them following Assad’s ousting during a rapid rebel offensive in December.

U.S. POLICY ON SYRIA UNDER REVIEW

The response to these demands represents a significant indication of the Trump administration’s stance on Syria. U.S. communications have primarily emphasized support for minority groups and denounced Islamist extremism, yet they have provided little clarity regarding the future of sanctions or the continued presence of U.S. forces in the northeast. This ambiguity stems partly from differing opinions within Washington on how to handle the situation in Syria. Some officials in the White House advocate for a tougher approach, citing the new Syrian leadership’s past connections to Al-Qaeda as justification for limiting engagement, according to diplomats and U.S. sources involved in the policymaking process.

The State Department has pursued a more nuanced strategy regarding Syria, exploring potential areas for engagement, according to sources. This divergence in approach resulted in a contentious discussion earlier this month between the White House and the State Department concerning U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks condemning the violence in western Syria. This violence resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians from the Alawite minority, the sect of President Assad, following an ambush on newly established security forces by armed loyalists of the former regime.

Rubio denounced the actions of “radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis,” who perpetrated the violence and urged Syria’s interim authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The White House advocated for a more forceful statement, while the State Department resisted, aiming for a more balanced perspective, as reported by sources familiar with the discussions.

Last month, Reuters indicated that Israel was actively urging the United States to maintain a weakened and decentralized Syria. While the administration has not fully aligned with Israel’s push to limit U.S. engagement with Syria’s new leadership, some of Israel’s concerns are resonating more with certain U.S. officials.