On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control published a Fact Sheet on Frequently Asked Questions related to Syria General License 25 (“GL 25”). OFAC issued the Fact Sheet to clarify the types of transactions authorized by GL 25, which was issued on May 23, 2025 to effectively lift sanctions on Syria by authorizing certain transactions that were previously prohibited under the Syria Sanctions Regulations, including the provision of services to Syrian people and companies and transactions that provide support to the new Government of Syria. However, certain sanctions imposed pursuant to Syria Sanctions Regulations are still in place (see Syria’s Time to Shine: The United Sates Issues Significant (but Incomplete) Sanctions Relief).
In addition to providing a general overview of the authorizations in GL 25, the Fact Sheet reiterates that that OFAC general licenses are “self-executing,” which means that persons who engage in activities authorized by a general license may proceed without further assurance from OFAC. The Fact Sheet also confirms, among other things, that Syria sanctions that block individuals and entities, including those against Bashar Al-Assad and his enablers, remain in place as well as sanctions related to blocked property or interests in property that were in place as of May 22, 2025. It is also important to note that Syria General License 24, which permits transactions with governing institutions in Syria and certain energy-related transactions as well as noncommercial personal remittances to Syria, remains in effect until July 7, 2025.
Anyone with questions regarding the provisions of Syria General License 25 are encouraged to contact OFAC via the OFAC Compliance Hotline.
Fact Sheet: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Syria General License 25