The State Department has formally initiated the process to remove Syria from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, an action that comes as the Trump administration continues to normalize relations with Damascus. The Treasury Department announced the decision on Monday, which has been anticipated for weeks and is subject to a period of congressional review.
Syria has held the designation since 1979. The removal is expected to unlock opportunities for Syria's economic revitalization and progress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the action advances U.S. national security interests by promoting peace, prosperity, and security in the Middle East.
The designation as a state sponsor of terrorism subjects a country to foreign aid restrictions, military export bans, and financial penalties. Its removal is intended to foster greater investment in Syria, thereby promoting political and economic stability.
This development follows a meeting last month between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Turkey. Trump described al-Sharaa as "fantastic" and "highly respected" and indicated his intention to remove Syria from the list.
"I think I will, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?" Trump told reporters at the time. "He’s done a great job."
Syrian President al-Sharaa, who has worked to normalize relations with the U.S. since the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, has sought the removal of his country from international blacklists. Despite past affiliations with al-Qaeda, which he has since severed, al-Sharaa has also led efforts against ISIS during the Syrian Civil War.
In conjunction with Syria's removal from the list, the Nusrah Front, an organization founded by al-Sharaa that previously opposed the Assad regime, has also been removed from the list of specially designated global terrorist organizations.
Syrian Finance Minister Muhammad Yasser Bernia hailed the decision as a "major and historic success for Syrian diplomacy." He added that the move represents a significant step toward strengthening Syria's integration with the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and technology, and supporting development opportunities.