Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions (PAARSS)

CHANGES TO OFAC'S SYRIA SANCTIONS PROGRAM AS OF JUNE 30, 2025 and AUGUST 24, 2026

OFAC no longer maintains comprehensive sanctions on Syria or blocking sanctions on the Government of Syria.  

OFAC maintains list-based sanctions on former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, persons linked to Syria's past proliferation activities, ISIS and Al-Qa'ida affiliates, and Iran and its proxies.  

More details about these updates can be found below.

The following sanctions authorities are in effect with respect to Syria:

• Executive Order (E.O.) 14312, of June 30, 2025, amends E.O. 13894 and authorizes the imposition of sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon drug traffickers, and certain other destabilizing regional actors. To implement these executive orders, OFAC amended the Syria-Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR Part 569, to, among other things, change the heading to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions Regulations (PAARSSR), effective September 25, 2025. Persons designated pursuant to the PAARSSR may be found on OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). Separate authorities maintain list-based sanctions on other actors in Syria and the region, including those supporting terrorism, Iran and its proxies, and Syria's past proliferation activities.

The following sanctions authorities are no longer in effect with respect to Syria:

• Effective July 1, 2025, E.O. 14312 revoked the following six Executive Orders that formed the foundation of the Syria sanctions program and terminated the national emergency underlying those Executive Orders: E.O. 13338 of May 11, 2004; E.O. 13399 of April 25, 2006; E.O. 13460 of February 13, 2008; E.O. 13572 of April 29, 2011; E.O. 13573 of May 18, 2011; and E.O. 13582 of August 17, 2011. To reflect this revocation of authorities, OFAC removed the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 542 (SySR) from the Code of Federal Regulations on August 25, 2025. U.S. persons are not broadly prohibited from engaging in transactions with respect to Syria or the Government of Syria that were previously prohibited solely by the SySR. In addition, following the revocation of the above six E.O.s, persons designated solely pursuant to the blocking authorities of those E.O.s were removed from OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) and all property and interests in property blocked solely pursuant to the SySR or related to persons removed from the SDN List were unblocked.
• On December 18, 2025, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act) was repealed when President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
• The determination regarding Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism was rescinded on August 24, 2026. Accordingly, Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 596 (TLGSR), or 22 USC 7205(a)(1). Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham was concurrently removed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization from the SDN List.  
• The revocation of the aforementioned sanctions authorities does not affect past, present, or future OFAC enforcement investigations or actions associated with any apparent violations of the SySR that occurred prior to July 1, 2025 or of the TLGSR prior to August 24, 2026.

• Tri-Seal Advisory: Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria (Updated on August 24, 2026 )

OFAC has compiled hundreds of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about its sanctions programs and related policies. The link below sends the user to the entire list of OFAC's FAQs.

• OFAC Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC issues interpretive guidance on specific issues related to the sanctions programs it administers. These interpretations of OFAC policy are sometimes published in response to a public request for guidance or may be released proactively by OFAC in order to address a complex topic.

• Guidance on the Provision of Certain Services Relating to the Requirements of U.S. Sanctions Laws (January 12, 2017)
• Index of Interpretative Guidance

It may be in your and the U.S. government's interest to authorize particular economic activity related to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions. Certain activities related to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Visit the link below to apply for an OFAC license.

• Apply for an OFAC License Online - Authorization from OFAC to engage in a transaction that otherwise would be prohibited.

Certain activities related to Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Below OFAC has issued guidance and statements on specific licensing policies as they relate to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions.

• Licenses for Legal Fees and Costs - Guidance on the Release of Limited Amounts of Blocked Funds for Payment of Legal Fees and Costs Incurred in Challenging the Blocking of U.S. Persons in Administrative or Civil Proceedings
• Entities Owned By Blocked Persons - Guidance On Entities Owned By Persons Whose Property And Interests In Property Are Blocked

The Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions program represents the implementation of multiple legal authorities. Some of these authorities are in the form of an executive order issued by the President. Other authorities are public laws (statutes) passed by The Congress. These authorities are further codified by OFAC in its regulations which are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Modifications to these regulations are posted in the Federal Register.