Trump signed an executive order on Monday to formally dismantle much of the decades-old U.S. sanctions program on Syria, unwinding sweeping economic and financial restrictions on

U.S. officials said sanctions against targets such as its central bank would end, but they would remain on Syria’s former dictator, Bashar al-Assad.

President Donald Trump on Monday lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria, signing an executive order to carry out a promise he made in May.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters ahead of the signing that Trump's action was designed to "promote and support the country's path to stability and peace.