United States Presents Conditions to Syria for Partial Sanction Relief
The U.S. outlines specific conditions in exchange for easing sanctions on Syria amid ongoing humanitarian concerns.
The United States has delivered a list of conditions to the Syrian government, aiming for partial relief from sanctions, according to six informed sources.
The conditions include ensuring that foreign nationals do not hold leadership positions within the government, as confirmed by both American and Syrian officials.
Natasha Franceschi, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Levant Affairs and Syria, presented the demands to Syrian Foreign Minister Firas al-Shabaan during a private meeting on the sidelines of the Syria donor conference in Brussels on March 18. This marks the first high-level direct contact between Damascus and Washington since Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
Among the U.S. requirements are the destruction of any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria and enhanced cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.
There is concern regarding Syria’s appointments of foreign nationals previously linked to opposition entities, including individuals from the Uyghur community, Jordan, and Turkey, to key roles in the Ministry of Defense.
U.S. officials have also requested Syria to appoint a liaison to support American efforts in locating Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria for over a decade.
In exchange for meeting these demands, Washington has indicated it would offer partial sanctions relief.
However, the type of relief has not been specified, and no timeline has been established for meeting these conditions.
Both the Syrian and U.S. foreign ministries have not responded to requests for comment on this matter.
Syria is in dire need of sanctions relief to revitalize its economy, which has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil conflict.
During this period, the U.S., UK, and European nations have imposed stringent sanctions targeting individuals, companies, and entire sectors of the Syrian economy in an attempt to pressure the government of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Some sanctions have been temporarily suspended, though the overall impact has been limited.
In January, the U.S. issued a six-month general license to facilitate humanitarian aid; however, this was deemed insufficient for enabling Qatar to pay public sector salaries via the Syrian banking system.
Syrian officials, including Shabaan and interim President Ahmad al-Shara, have called for the full lifting of sanctions, arguing that the continuation of these measures is unjust following the overthrow of Assad in a rapid offensive by opposition forces in December.
The conditions include ensuring that foreign nationals do not hold leadership positions within the government, as confirmed by both American and Syrian officials.
Natasha Franceschi, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Levant Affairs and Syria, presented the demands to Syrian Foreign Minister Firas al-Shabaan during a private meeting on the sidelines of the Syria donor conference in Brussels on March 18. This marks the first high-level direct contact between Damascus and Washington since Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
Among the U.S. requirements are the destruction of any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria and enhanced cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.
There is concern regarding Syria’s appointments of foreign nationals previously linked to opposition entities, including individuals from the Uyghur community, Jordan, and Turkey, to key roles in the Ministry of Defense.
U.S. officials have also requested Syria to appoint a liaison to support American efforts in locating Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria for over a decade.
In exchange for meeting these demands, Washington has indicated it would offer partial sanctions relief.
However, the type of relief has not been specified, and no timeline has been established for meeting these conditions.
Both the Syrian and U.S. foreign ministries have not responded to requests for comment on this matter.
Syria is in dire need of sanctions relief to revitalize its economy, which has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil conflict.
During this period, the U.S., UK, and European nations have imposed stringent sanctions targeting individuals, companies, and entire sectors of the Syrian economy in an attempt to pressure the government of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Some sanctions have been temporarily suspended, though the overall impact has been limited.
In January, the U.S. issued a six-month general license to facilitate humanitarian aid; however, this was deemed insufficient for enabling Qatar to pay public sector salaries via the Syrian banking system.
Syrian officials, including Shabaan and interim President Ahmad al-Shara, have called for the full lifting of sanctions, arguing that the continuation of these measures is unjust following the overthrow of Assad in a rapid offensive by opposition forces in December.
