U.S. Delivers List of Conditions to Syria for Sanctions Relief, Reuters Reports
The U.S. has outlined conditions for partial sanctions relief to Syria, demanding the expulsion of foreign fighters, assistance in locating missing journalist Austin Tice, and cooperation on counter-terrorism. This marks a significant diplomatic engagement under the Trump administration, with implications for Middle East diplomacy amidst Syria’s economic struggles.
hassan benyoub 
Washington/Beirut, March 25, 2025, 2:00 PM PDT – The United States has presented Syria with a list of conditions for partial sanctions relief, including the expulsion of foreign fighters and assistance in locating missing American journalist Austin Tice, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday. The demands, delivered during a high-level meeting in Brussels, mark a significant diplomatic engagement under the Trump administration, as shared on X by @Reuters at 1:30 PM PDT.
Details of U.S. Conditions
The conditions, outlined by six sources familiar with the matter, require Syria to ensure foreign fighters, including Uyghurs, a Jordanian, and a Turk recently appointed to its defense ministry, are removed from senior roles, per Reuters. Additional demands include helping the U.S. find Austin Tice, missing since 2012, destroying any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles, and cooperating on counter-terrorism efforts, as reported by The New York Times. The U.S. also seeks to appoint a liaison to aid in Tice’s search, a priority for Washington, per a December 2024 NYT article.
The conditions were handed to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria Natasha Franceschi during a March 18 meeting on the sidelines of a Syria donor conference in Brussels, per Reuters. This marks the first high-level direct contact between the two nations under Trump’s administration, following al-Shibani’s attendance at the summit, as noted in a March 12 Reuters report.
U.S. Offer and Syrian Context
In return, the U.S. offered partial sanctions relief, though specifics and timelines remain undisclosed, per the sources. Syria, grappling with an economy devastated by 14 years of war, desperately needs relief from sanctions imposed by the U.S., U.K., and others, which have crippled its recovery, per a 2024 World Bank report. Posts on X, like @SyriaNewsUpdate’s, highlight public hope for economic reprieve, while @USStateDept emphasized the conditions as non-negotiable.
Syria’s appointment of foreign ex-rebels to its defense ministry had already alarmed foreign governments, per Reuters, making the U.S. demand for their removal a focal point. The chemical weapons condition aligns with ongoing OPCW efforts, with 96% of Syria’s declared stockpile destroyed by 2014, though concerns persist, per Wikipedia’s entry on Syria’s chemical weapons destruction.
Diplomatic Implications
The Brussels meeting, facilitated by the U.S., signals a cautious re-engagement with Syria under Trump, who has prioritized ending regional conflicts, per a March 2025 Carnegie Endowment analysis. However, posts on X, such as @MiddleEastEye’s, question whether Syria will comply, given its reliance on foreign fighters and historical resistance to external pressure. Neither Syria’s foreign ministry nor the U.S. State Department responded to requests for comment, per Reuters.
As of 2:00 PM PDT, the U.S. is awaiting Syria’s response, with potential implications for broader Middle East diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.
