Tokyo, Sept. 29 (SANA) Japan has lifted asset freezes and other restrictions on 16 Syrian entities, including the defense and interior ministries, as Tokyo reviews sanctions imposed on Syria since 2011.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the decision reflected recent developments in Syria and the state of bilateral relations. The changes took effect Tuesday under a notice issued by the ministry.
The measures were lifted from several government bodies, state-owned companies and banks, including the Commercial Bank of Syria, Real Estate Bank, Syria International Islamic Bank, General Petroleum Corporation and Syrian Petroleum Company.
Syriatel, the Military Housing Establishment, Political Security Directorate, Syria Lebanon Commercial Bank, Syrian Petroleum Trading Company (Sytrol), Syrian Company for Oil Transport, General Organization of Radio and Television, Cotton Marketing Organization and Mahroukat were also included.
Japan will maintain sanctions on 59 individuals, including deposed regime head Bashar Assad, and 15 entities linked to him, according to the ministry.
Under Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, payments and financial transfers involving individuals or entities that remain under sanctions require prior government approval.
Japan imposed asset freezes and other restrictions on Syrian individuals and entities beginning in 2011 over the deposed regime’s war against the Syrian people.
Tokyo began easing some of those measures after the fall of the deposed regime. On May 30, 2025, it lifted asset freezes on four Syrian banks — the Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Savings Bank and Agricultural Cooperative Bank.
kA/ABD
