Syrian interim leader urges US to lift sanctions, cites end of Assad regime

The United States should lift sanctions on Syria as the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad, whose actions prompted the restrictions, no longer exists, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with The New York Times.

Al-Sharaa highlighted the damaging impact of sanctions on the Syrian economy, including during Assad’s rule. “Entire sectors were devastated — agriculture, economy, finance, services, tourism,” he said.

The New York Times noted that al-Sharaa himself remains under UN sanctions. According to two U.S. officials cited by the paper, Washington outlined eight conditions in March that Syria must meet before sanctions are lifted. These include eliminating remaining chemical weapons, cooperating on counterterrorism, and expelling foreign mercenaries who served in the rebel army led by al-Sharaa and have since taken roles in the transitional government.

Al-Sharaa said some of the conditions “need to be discussed or revised,” but declined to offer specifics. He assured that the new authorities would not allow Syrian territory to become a threat to other countries.