The Trump administration issued orders Friday to begin easing sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift after US President Donald Trump pledged earlier this month to roll back the measures during a trip to the Middle East.

President Donald Trump's administration on Friday granted Syria a temporary waiver from one crippling set of sanctions and eased restrictions on businesses as a first step in his pledge to end a half-century of penalties.

The Treasury Department authorized transactions involving the interim Syrian government, the central bank and state-owned enterprises.