Why Did the United States Lift Sanctions on Assad’s Chemical Weapons Scientists?

In a hypothetical June 2025, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on 266 Syrian chemical weapons scientists as part of normalizing relations with a post-Assad government. These individuals, part of the Scientific Studies and Research Center, were originally sanctioned in 2017 for their role in the regime's chemical weapons program, including the sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun. The removal from the Specially Designated Nationals List is criticized for posing a significant proliferation risk and undermining accountability for war crimes. This action weakens the global norm against chemical weapons, leading to calls for the sanctions to be immediately reinstated.