Rule2025-16324
Syrian Sanctions Regulations
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 26, 2025
Effective
August 26, 2025
Issuing agencies
Treasury DepartmentForeign Assets Control Office
Abstract
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is removing from the Code of Federal Regulations the Syrian Sanctions Regulations as a result of the termination of the national emergency on which the regulations were based and further changes to the policy of the United States towards Syria.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 163 (Tuesday, August 26, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 26, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41505-41506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16324]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Part 542
Syrian Sanctions Regulations
AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is removing from the Code of Federal Regulations the
Syrian Sanctions Regulations as a result of the termination of the
national emergency on which the regulations were based and further
changes to the policy of the United States towards Syria.
DATES: This rule is effective August 26, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for
Regulatory Affairs, 202-622-4855; or <a href="https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac">https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
available on OFAC's website: <a href="https://ofac.treasury.gov">https://ofac.treasury.gov</a>.
Background
On May 11, 2004, the President, invoking the authority of, inter
alia, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.) (IEEPA) and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-175, 117 Stat. 2482 (22 U.S.C.
2151 note)), issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13338 of May 11, 2004,
``Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of
Certain Goods to Syria'' (69 FR 26751, May 13, 2004). In E.O. 13338,
the President determined that the actions of the Government of Syria in
supporting terrorism, continuing its occupation of Lebanon, pursuing
weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining
United States and international efforts with respect to the
stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq constituted an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States and declared a national emergency to deal
with that threat.
On April 5, 2005, OFAC issued the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, 31
CFR part 542 (70 FR 17201, April 5, 2005) (the ``Regulations''), to
implement E.O. 13338, pursuant to authorities delegated to the
Secretary of the Treasury in E.O. 13338. The Regulations were initially
issued in abbreviated form for the purpose of providing immediate
guidance to the public.
On May 2, 2014, OFAC reissued the Regulations in their entirety (79
FR 25414, May 2, 2014), and, among other effects, implemented E.O.
13399 of April 25, 2006, ``Blocking Property of Additional Persons in
Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria'' (71 FR
25059, April 28, 2006), E.O. 13460 of February 13, 2008, ``Blocking
Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National
Emergency With Respect to Syria'' (73 FR 8991, February 15, 2008), E.O.
13572 of April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons With
Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria'' (76 FR 24787, May 3, 2011),
E.O. 13573 of May 18, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Senior Officials of
the Government of Syria'' (76 FR 29143, May 20, 2011), E.O. 13582 of
August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and
Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Syria'' (76 FR 52209,
August 22, 2011), and E.O. 13606 of April 22, 2012, ``Blocking the
Property and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Certain Persons
With Respect to Grave Human Rights Abuses by the Governments of Iran
and Syria via Information Technology'' (77 FR 24571, April 24, 2012).
On June 6, 2024, OFAC further amended the Regulations (89 FR 48310,
June 6, 2024) to, among other effects, implement relevant provisions of
E.O. 13608 of May 1, 2012, ``Prohibiting Certain Transactions With and
Suspending Entry Into the United States of Foreign Sanctions Evaders
With Respect to Iran and Syria'' (77 FR 26409, May 3, 2012), the Syria
Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791 et seq.), the
Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9401
et seq.), and the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Pub. L.
116-92, Div. F, Title LXXIV, 133 Stat. 2290 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note)).
On June 30, 2025, the President issued E.O. 14312, ``Providing for
the Revocation of Syria Sanctions'' (90 FR 29395, July 3, 2025) to,
among other objectives, remove sanctions on Syria without providing
relief to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or other
terrorist organizations, human rights abusers, those linked to chemical
weapons or proliferation-related activities, or other persons that
threaten the peace, security, or stability of the United States, Syria,
and its neighbors. In E.O. 14312, the President found that the
circumstances that gave rise to the actions taken in the Executive
orders imposing sanctions on Syria pursuant to the national emergency
declared in E.O. 13338, related to the policies and actions of the
former regime of Bashar al-Assad, had been transformed by developments
over the six months preceding June 30, 2025, including the positive
actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-
Sharaa. In section 3 of E.O. 14312, the President terminated, effective
July 1, 2025, the national emergency declared in E.O. 13338 and revoked
that order and E.O.s 13399, 13460, 13572, 13573, and 13582.
Additionally, in section 4(b) of E.O. 14312, the President amended E.O.
13606 by removing reference in the preamble to E.O. 13338 and replacing
it with reference to E.O. 13894, as relied upon for additional steps
and further amended in subsequent Executive orders. Moreover, while
E.O. 13608 remains in effect with respect to its Iran and Iran-related
antiterrorism and non-proliferation authorities, with the termination
of the national emergency declared in E.O. 13338, it no longer has
effect with respect to the Syria-specific authorities in furtherance of
the national emergency declared in that Executive order.
As a result, OFAC is removing the Regulations from the Code of
Federal Regulations. Pursuant to section 202(a) of the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(a)) and section 3(b) of E.O. 14312,
termination of the national emergency declared in E.O. 13338 shall not
affect any action taken or pending proceeding not finally concluded or
determined as of July 1, 2025, any action or proceeding based on any
act committed prior to July 1, 2025, or any rights or duties that
matured or penalties that were incurred prior to July 1, 2025.
Section 4(a) of E.O. 14312 further amends E.O. 13894 of October 14,
2019, ``Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons
Contributing to the Situation in Syria'' (84 FR 55851, October 17,
2019) as amended by E.O. 14142 of January 15, 2025, ``Taking Additional
Steps With Respect to the Situation in Syria'' (90 FR 6709, January 17,
2025), to ensure meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war
crimes and human rights violations and
[[Page 41506]]
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. Accordingly, certain persons previously
sanctioned under E.O.s that were revoked by E.O. 14312 have been
redesignated under E.O. 13894, as further amended. OFAC intends, in a
separate rulemaking, to amend 31 CFR part 569 to rename it the
Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions
Regulations and to incorporate E.O. 13894, as further amended, and
other relevant authorities.
Public Participation
Because the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, the
provisions of E.O. 12866 of September 30, 1993, ``Regulatory Planning
and Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), as amended, and the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of
proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in
effective date, as well as the provisions of E.O. 14192 of January 31,
2025, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation'' (90 FR 9065,
February 6, 2025) and E.O. 14219 of February 19, 2025, ``Ensuring
Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's `Department of
Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative'' (90 FR 10583, February
25, 2025) are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is
required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-
612) does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this rule does
not impose information collection requirements that would require the
approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.
List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 542
Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of
assets, Brokers, Credit, Foreign trade, Investments, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sanctions, Securities,
Services, Syria.
PART 542--[REMOVED]
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, and pursuant to 50 U.S.C.
1601 et seq. and E.O. 14312, (90 FR 29395, July 3, 2025), OFAC amends
31 CFR chapter V by removing part 542.
Bradley T. Smith,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2025-16324 Filed 8-25-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 26, 2025.
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