Treasury lifts sanctions on former Syrian prime minister who defected

The Treasury Department on Tuesday announced it was lifting sanctions on Syria's former prime minister, who defected earlier this month.

The effort is a move that could encourage other officials close to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime to cut ties with the government. 

“Recent civilian and military defections from the Assad regime are further indications that the government is crumbling and losing its grip on power,” said David S. Cohen, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. “The United States encourages other officials within the Syrian government, in both the political and military ranks, to take similarly courageous steps to reject the Assad regime and stand with the Syrian people.”

Former Prime Minister Riyad Hijab was designated as a target of U.S. sanctions as a top official in Assad's regime. In ending the sanctions, Treasury noted he has cut his ties with the Syrian ruler and was no longer listed as a designated official. 

The sanctions had frozen Hijab's assets and barred U.S. persons and businesses from dealing with him.

The U.S. government had levied the sanctions against 29 top Assad officials in July as a way to increase pressure on the regime over its violent crackdown on civilian protests. The United States hoped the sanctions would encourage defections, and highlighted that fact in announcing its lifting of those imposed on Hijab.

Assad's new prime minister, Wael Nader Al-Halqi, was already subject to U.S. sanctions in his previous position as Syria's health minister.

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