Time to lift the international sanctions on Syria?

Since the unexpected overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in early December 2024, Syria has embarked on an uncertain trajectory. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed jihadi group leading the offensive against the Assad forces, has now taken charge of the country and set up a caretaker government. Scepticism abounds in international circles about HTS owing to the group's terrorist credentials and Salafist ideology. However, the new Syrian authorities have declared plans to establish a political transition inclusive of all minorities and segments of Syrian society, as well as increased engagement with neighbouring countries and other foreign players, offering the international community some reassurance. One of the main demands in the current context from all sides, within Syria as well as from other states and organisations, has been to lift the complex web of international economic, financial and trade sanctions against the country. Most of these sanctions were imposed after Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters in 2011. Moreover, calls have been made to remove the designations of HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from the international terrorist lists. Such steps are believed to be essential in addressing the significant economic and humanitarian challenges facing the country after nearly 14 years of civil war. The United States (US) imposes the most comprehensive sanctions on Syria, including secondary sanctions on foreign governments, non-US individuals and entities doing business with the Syrian government and sanctioned entities in Syria. The European Union (EU) has also imposed restrictive measures on certain Syrian economic sectors, along with asset freezes and travel bans on individuals or entities supporting the Assad regime. In January 2025, the US granted short-term waivers relating to the provision of basic services in response to requests for sanctions relief for Syria. Similarly, the EU Member States reached a political agreement to suspend certain restrictions gradually and conditionally. The UN Security Council has the authority to remove the terrorist designations of HTS and its leader from the ISIL (Da'esh)/Al-Qaida list.