CHANGES TO OFAC'S SYRIA SANCTIONS PROGRAM AS OF JUNE 30, 2025

On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (E.O. of June 30, 2025) that removes U.S. sanctions on Syria, effective July 1, 2025. Sanctions will remain on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, persons linked to Syria's past proliferation activities, ISIS and Al-Qa'ida affiliates, and Iran and its proxies. OFAC previously issued Syria General License (GL) 25, which authorizes transactions otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 542 (SySR). To the extent still necessary, persons may continue to rely on GL 25 and the related Syria GL 25 Fact Sheet, which OFAC originally issued on May 28, 2025.

Revocation of sanctions authorities with respect to Syria: E.O. of June 30, 2025 revokes the following six Executive orders that form the foundation of the Syria sanctions program and terminates the national emergency underlying those Executive orders, effective July 1, 2025: E.O. 13338 of May 11, 2004; E.O. 13399 of April 25, 2006; E.O. 13460 of February 13, 2008; E.O. 13572 of April 29, 2011; E.O. 13573 of May 18, 2011; and E.O. 13582 of August 17, 2011.

As a result, OFAC will remove the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 542 (SySR) from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) following the July 1, 2025 revocation. Persons designated solely pursuant to these orders have been removed from OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). Certain persons, including Bashar al-Assad and certain other destabilizing regional actors, will remain on the SDN List if they have also been designated under a different sanctions authority, including new designations under E.O. 13894, as further amended by E.O. of June 30, 2025.

Additional action and relief for Syria in E.O. of June 30, 2025:

Caesar Act Suspension: Directs the Secretary of State to examine whether to suspend the imposition of some or all of the sanctions required under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act). This follows the May 23, 2025 action by the Secretary of State to waive the imposition of certain sanctions described in the Caesar Act for 180 days. Export Controls: Waives the requirements to impose certain export controls under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 and the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act).

Counterterrorism and SST Designations: Directs the Secretary of State to take all appropriate action with respect to the designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), as well as the SDGT designation of Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, and Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

Assistance Restriction and Sanctions Waiver: Waives restrictions on Syria related to foreign assistance, U.S. government credit or other financial assistance, and loans and credit from U.S. financial institutions under the CBW Act.

Please consult the Departments of State and Commerce for information on these actions.

Maintaining sanctions on Assad and certain other destabilizing regional actors:

To maintain sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and certain other destabilizing regional actors, E.O. of June 30, 2025 also expands the scope of the national emergency declared in E.O. 13894 and further amends the criteria therein for the imposition of sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon drug traffickers, and certain other destabilizing regional actors. Additional authorities maintain sanctions on other actors in Syria and the region, including those supporting terrorism, Iran and its proxies, and Syria's past proliferation activities.

OFAC has compiled hundreds of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about its sanctions programs and related policies. The link below sends the user to the entire list of OFAC's FAQs.

• OFAC Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC issues interpretive guidance on specific issues related to the sanctions programs it administers. These interpretations of OFAC policy are sometimes published in response to a public request for guidance or may be released proactively by OFAC in order to address a complex topic.

• Guidance on the Provision of Certain Services Relating to the Requirements of U.S. Sanctions Laws (January 12, 2017)
• Index of Interpretative Guidance

It may be in your and the U.S. government's interest to authorize particular economic activity related to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions. Certain activities related to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Visit the link below to apply for an OFAC license.

• Apply for an OFAC License Online - Authorization from OFAC to engage in a transaction that otherwise would be prohibited.

Certain activities related to Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Below OFAC has issued guidance and statements on specific licensing policies as they relate to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions.

• Licenses for Legal Fees and Costs - Guidance on the Release of Limited Amounts of Blocked Funds for Payment of Legal Fees and Costs Incurred in Challenging the Blocking of U.S. Persons in Administrative or Civil Proceedings
• Entities Owned By Blocked Persons - Guidance On Entities Owned By Persons Whose Property And Interests In Property Are Blocked

The Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions program represents the implementation of multiple legal authorities. Some of these authorities are in the form of an executive order issued by the President. Other authorities are public laws (statutes) passed by The Congress. These authorities are further codified by OFAC in its regulations which are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Modifications to these regulations are posted in the Federal Register.