Washington Proposes for the First Time the Possibility of Lifting Sanctions on Damascus

Two U.S. senators, one Republican and one Democrat, have introduced an amendment to suspend the sanctions imposed on Syria under the “Caesar Act,” conditional upon the transitional government in Syria adhering to a set of political and security terms.

Although the amendment has not yet been put to a vote, its chances of approval appear strong, supported by President Donald Trump’s administration and a broad Republican bloc.

According to the proposal, the suspension of sanctions would be contingent on specific commitments from Damascus, including:

Officially joining the international coalition against ISIS.

Committing to combating ISIS and other terrorist groups.

Protecting religious and ethnic minorities and ensuring their political participation.

Maintaining peaceful relations with regional countries, including Israel.

Ceasing funding and support for organizations and individuals classified as terrorists.

Releasing political detainees.

Cooperating with international investigation committees on crimes and violations since 2011.

The amendment stipulates that the U.S. President must submit a periodic report to Congress every 120 days regarding the transitional government’s compliance with these conditions. If compliance is confirmed, sanctions would be automatically suspended but remain in place.

This amendment represents the first proposal to open the door to the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria—albeit conditionally and on a periodic basis—which could mark the beginning of Syria’s economic recovery and attract foreign investment if Damascus adheres to its terms.