State Department says removing Syria sanctions is complex but underway swiftly

The Trump administration is moving toward lifting sanctions on Syria, but officials caution that coordinating between government agencies means the process will take longer than initially expected.

The US State Department clarified Thursday that President Donald Trump’s order to lift sanctions on Syria will not be immediate, emphasizing the complexity of coordination among multiple government agencies.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that while the president’s directive signals a shift in US policy, the actual removal of sanctions involves departments like the Treasury and requires careful interagency cooperation.

“Sanctions are administered through different departments in this country,” Bruce explained. “The president’s message is clear to reverse our dynamic, but it is a process that will take some time.”

Bruce added that the administration recognizes the urgency and is working to expedite the process. “It will be done quickly, and certainly more quickly than we're used to.”

Last week, Trump announced his intention to lift what he called “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria, following requests from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump subsequently met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, the first such meeting between US and Syrian leaders in 25 years.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for efforts to stabilize Syria’s new government, warning that failure could trigger renewed civil war and regional instability. “We want to help that government succeed because the alternative is full-scale civil war and chaos,” Rubio told a Senate committee.

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