Executive Order 14312

Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions

Signed June 30, 2025, printed at 90 FR 29395. 10 sections of substance, 2,614 words.

In plain English

This order lifts many of the penalties on Syria. It says the country has a chance to rebuild.

Sec. 1. Background

The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors. A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury have taken initial steps towards this goal through the issuance on May 23, 2025, of General License 25 and a waiver of sanctions under the Caesar Act.

In plain English

This is about Syria. It says the country should be stable and at peace. It says it must not shelter terror groups. It says minorities must be protected there. It cites steps taken on May 23, 2025. Those were a general license and a sanctions waiver.

Sec. 2. Policy

It is the policy of the United States to recognize that circumstances that gave rise to the actions taken in the Executive Orders described in section 3(a) of this order, related to the policies and actions of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, have been transformed by developments over the past 6 months, including the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This order supports United States national security and foreign policy goals by directing additional actions, including the removal of sanctions on Syria, the issuance of waivers that permit the relaxation of export controls and other restrictions on Syria, and other actions to be taken by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as well as by other executive departments and agencies (agencies) of the United States, without providing relief

In plain English

This states the policy. It says the old Assad rule has gone. It says the new government has taken positive steps. It says conditions behind the sanctions have changed. Sanctions on Syria are to be lifted. Export limits are to be eased. Three agencies must carry that out.

Sec. 3. Revocation of Syria Sanctions

(a) Effective July 1, 2025, I hereby terminate the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004 (Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria), and revoke that order, as well as Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria), Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria), Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011 (Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria), Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011 (Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria), and Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011 (Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain

In plain English

This lifts those sanctions. It ends an emergency declared in 2004. That order is revoked. Five later orders are revoked with it. They date from 2006 to 2011. They froze property and barred exports. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Sec. 4. Accountability for the Former Regime of Bashar al-Assad

I find that additional steps must be taken to ensure meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes, human rights violations and abuses, and the proliferation of narcotics trafficking networks in and in relation to Syria during the former regime of Bashar al-Assad and by those associated with it. Perpetrators of such actions threaten to undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, and thereby constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. (a) I hereby expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria), as amended in and relied on for additional steps taken in Executive Order 14142 of January 15, 2025 (Taking Additional Steps With Respect to the Situation in

In plain English

This keeps some penalties. They target war crimes under the old rule. Abuses of human rights are named. So are drug trafficking networks. It says those people still threaten the region. It widens an emergency declared in 2019. That lets such people be listed.

Sec. 5. Caesar Act

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall examine whether the criteria set forth in section 7431(a) of the Caesar Act have been met, and on the basis of that examination may, pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum of March 31, 2020 (Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020), suspend in whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise required under the Caesar Act. If the Secretary of State determines to suspend in whole or in part the imposition of such sanctions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall provide the briefing to the appropriate congressional committees required by section 7431(b) of the Caesar Act within 30 days of such determination. Further, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the

In plain English

This is about a 2019 sanctions law. State must check whether its tests are met. Treasury advises on that. If so, the sanctions may be paused. That may be in whole or in part. A briefing to Congress follows within 30 days.

Sec. 6. Syria Accountability Act

I hereby determine pursuant to section 5(b) of the Syria Accountability Act that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive the application of subsection (a)(1), with respect to items on the Commerce Control List (supp. No. 1 to 15 C.F.R. part 774) only, and subsection (a)(2)(A) of the Syria Accountability Act only. The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the report required under section 5(b) of that Act.

In plain English

This waives parts of an older Syria law. The waiver covers certain export limits. A control list defines what is covered. The President finds the waiver serves security. State must report to Congress. That report is required by the same law.

Sec. 7. CBW Act

(a) Pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the CBW Act, I hereby determine and certify that there has been a fundamental change [[Page 29398]] in the leadership and policies of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. Accordingly, I hereby waive the following sanctions imposed on Syria for the prior use of chemical weapons under the former regime of Bashar al-Assad: (i) the restriction on foreign assistance under section 307(a)(1) of the CBW Act; (ii) the restriction on United States Government credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance under section 307(a)(4) of the CBW Act; (iii) the restrictions on the export of national security-sensitive goods and technology under section 307(a)(5) of the CBW Act and on all other goods and technology under section 307(b)(2)(C) of the CBW Act; and (iv) the restriction on United States banks from making any loan or providing any credit

In plain English

This waives chemical weapons sanctions. The President certifies that the leadership has changed. Four penalties are lifted. One barred foreign aid. One barred federal credit. One barred sensitive exports. One barred bank loans to Syria.

Sec. 8. Counterterrorism Designations

(a) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, shall take all appropriate action with respect to the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and other aliases, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under 8 U.S.C. 1189 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224, as well as the designation of Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, commonly known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. (b) The Secretary of State shall take all appropriate action to review the designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism consistent with section 1754(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 50 U.S.C. 4813(c)), section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (Public Law 90-629, as amended; 22 U.S.C. 2780), and section

In plain English

This is about terror listings. State must review the status of one group. That group is known by several names. It must also review the listing of one man. He now leads Syria. It must also review Syria's status as a state sponsor of terror.

Sec. 9. United Nations

The Secretary of State shall take appropriate steps to advance United States policy objectives at the United Nations to support a Syria that is stable and at peace and to support Syrian efforts to counter terrorism and comply with its responsibilities and obligations concerning weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons. The Secretary of State is further directed to explore avenues at the United Nations to provide sanctions relief in support of these objectives.

In plain English

This is about the United Nations. State must press for a stable Syria. It must support work against terror there. It must press Syria on chemical weapons. Biological weapons are named too. It must also look for sanctions relief there.

Sec. 10. Implementation

The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, are hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, as may be necessary to implement this order. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within their respective agencies. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, is authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President in section 5 of the Syria Accountability Act and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement

In plain English

This says who carries it out. Three agency heads lead the work. They may write rules to do so. They may pass the work to their own staff. State may also use powers under a Syria law. Every agency must help where it can.

Sec. 11. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. [[Page 29399]] (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, June 30, 2025.

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.