Syria and sanctions: A new hope

Economic renewal: Since the overthrow of Assad, Syrian business owners have been waiting for Washington to ease sanctions. — Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times

HOURS after the Assad dictatorship fell in Syria, business owner Rasin Katta got a call from a former business partner in Damascus.

“‘Rasin, we’re going to start working again,’” Katta recalled the partner telling him excitedly. “‘We can start preparing the factory.’”