UN says sanctions on Syria can be lifted

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters on December 19 about the likely lifting of sanctions against Syria.

He noted that the sanctions imposed were directed against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but now the situation has changed.

"I believe that in the dramatic situation that we have in Syria, there should be at least a first gesture showing solidarity with the Syrian people until the conditions for the lifting of all sanctions are met," Guterres emphasized.

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Earlier, on December 11, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the United States purposefully imposed sanctions on Syria to maintain influence on the country, which caused dissatisfaction of the population with the socio-economic situation.

Prior to that, on December 8, the Arab League (LAS) called for lifting sanctions on Syria and supporting its people.

In May 2024, US President Joe Biden extended the unilateral sanctions regime on Syria for a year. He argued that the Syrian regime's actions and policies allegedly pose a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and the economy.

On December 8, after the aggravation of the situation in Syria, the national coalition of revolutionary and opposition forces in the country said it was working on the formation of a "transitional governing body." At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Bashar al-Assad, as a result of negotiations with the opposition, decided to leave the post of head of state and leave the country, giving instructions to carry out the transfer of power peacefully.

The situation in Syria escalated as a result of a major attack by armed formations in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliatory actions against the militants.