UK removes names from Syria, Iran sanctions lists

• London delists four individuals under Syria sanctions and one under Iran’s nuclear-related regime.
• The move follows broader international steps toward easing restrictions on Syria.

Britain has removed several names from its sanctions lists targeting Syria and Iran, according to a government notice published on Wednesday.

The notice showed that London carried out four delistings under its Syria sanctions regime, alongside one delisting under sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program. No further details were provided on the identities of those removed.

Part of wider shift on Syria

The British move comes amid wider international developments related to Syria. In May, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to lift all US sanctions on Syria following a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

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Last week, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of repealing sanctions on Syria, a step that would dismantle the legal framework that imposed broad economic and financial restrictions on the country for years.

Economic implications

Lifting sanctions could open the door for the return of foreign investment and the resumption of international aid flows, potentially supporting the new Syrian government’s efforts to rebuild the economy and address severe living and service-related challenges.

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Legacy of the Caesar Act

Sanctions have been a central obstacle to Syria’s economic recovery since the passage of the US Caesar Act in 2019 during Trump’s first term. The law imposed sweeping measures targeting individuals, companies, and institutions linked to the former government of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria from 2000 until his removal.