The U.S. Eases Some Restrictions on Syria While Maintaining Sanctions

On Monday, the United States eased some restrictions on the Syrian transitional government to facilitate humanitarian aid following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels last month. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a six-month general license allowing certain transactions with the Syrian government, including energy sales and related transactions. This action does not lift the sanctions imposed on a country that has experienced over a decade of war, but it indicates limited U.S. support for the new transitional government of Syria. The Treasury Department's statement noted that this general license reflects the U.S. commitment to ensuring that sanctions do not impede activities that meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian aid. U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo emphasized in the statement that the department 'will continue to support humanitarian aid and responsible governance in Syria.' Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, representatives of the new Syrian officials have announced that the new Syria will be 'inclusive' and open to the world. The U.S. has gradually reduced some sanctions since Assad fled to Russia. The Biden administration decided in December to cancel a $10 million reward for the capture of one of the Syrian rebel leaders who led the overthrow of Assad last month. The new Islamist government of Syria had previously stated that U.S. sanctions were an obstacle to improving the situation in Syria and called for their removal. Assad Hassan al-Shaybani, the Syrian Foreign Minister, stated on Sunday, January 6, after a visit to Doha, the capital of Qatar, that U.S. sanctions are 'an obstacle to the rapid improvement and progress of the Syrian people' and contradict the expectations of the Syrian people for receiving services and partnerships with other countries.