US Lifts Syria Sanctions Sans Guns: Post-Assad Thaw or Trap?
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
On June 30, 2025, the President determined pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the Act), 22 U.S.C. 5605(d)(1)(B), that there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and decided to waive all of the sanctions imposed on Syria over the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against his own people except the restriction on arms sales and arms sales financing. On August 20, 2026, The Under Secretary for Arms Control and Nonproliferation determined that it was essential to the national security of the United States to waive these two remaining restrictions.
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