US Senate leaders back lifting Syria sanctions after Al-Sharaa meeting

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee have voiced support for eliminating sanctions against Syria after conducting private discussions with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Committee Chairman Jim Risch and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen issued a joint statement Tuesday endorsing a "stable, representative and prosperous Syria" facilitated by repealing Caesar Act sanctions imposed during the previous Assad administration.

Bipartisan Support for Policy Shift

The senior legislators characterized the Syrian government under al-Sharaa's leadership as "becoming a U.S. partner" and expressed readiness to support this enhanced relationship. Their statement emphasized that congressional movement toward bipartisan legislation fully repealing Caesar sanctions would coincide with international observation of Syria's treatment of its citizens and neighbors, suggesting continued reform progress would build confidence among policymakers and investors regarding Syria's future direction.

Administrative and Legislative Actions

The congressional support follows the Trump administration's Monday announcement suspending Caesar Act sanctions imposition for 180 days, extending initial relief measures established last May. While executive actions can temporarily suspend sanctions enforcement, complete elimination requires congressional legislation, creating a coordinated approach between the administration and lawmakers toward normalizing US-Syrian relations, a development with significant implications for regional partners including Türkiye.

Political Context and Broader Engagement

President al-Sharaa told the Washington Post that most US lawmakers support sanction removal, noting administration agreement that Syria deserves stability and economic rebuilding opportunities. The diplomatic outreach has generated positive responses from multiple congressional figures, including Representative Marlin Stutzman who described talks with the Syrian president as "productive" and expressed optimism about religious freedom prospects in Syria, reflecting the expanding political engagement between Washington and Damascus.