READOUT: Treasury Co-hosts Syrian Banking Roundtable

What this means

On October 1, 2026, Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Jonathan Burke co-hosted a New York banking roundtable with Syrian Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh and Central Bank of Syria Governor Safwat Raslan, with virtual remarks from U.S. Presidential Envoy to Syria Ambassador Tom Barrack. U.S. financial institutions and payment-service providers were briefed on Syria's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing environment, gaps identified by an independent third party, and the Syrian government's stated reform work. Treasury said it will continue working with Syrian counterparts on illicit-finance controls and reforms as Syria reconnects to the global financial system after the United States lifted virtually all sanctions.

Official release

Source material from U.S. Department of the Treasury. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

NEW YORK - On Thursday, October 1, Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Jonathan Burke co-hosted an in-person banking roundtable with Syrian Minister of Finance Yisr Barnieh and the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Safwat Raslan in New York, with virtual remarks from the U.S. Presidential Envoy to Syria, Ambassador Tom Barrack.

During a full day of discussions, representatives from U.S. financial institutions and payment service providers gained greater insight into the current anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) landscape in Syria. Participants were briefed on key gaps identified by an independent third-party, and the Government of Syria’s ongoing work to address those gaps.

In light of President Trump’s historic decision to lift virtually all sanctions on Syria, Assistant Secretary Burke stressed that financial connectivity is essential to effectively combating illicit finance and supporting Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will continue to work closely with its Syrian counterparts to counter illicit finance and to implement key reforms.

###

Release text attributed to U.S. Department of the Treasury. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.