The United States officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday. This decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to dismantle significant barriers to economic investment and recovery in Syria. Rubio stated the formal rescission was authorized after a 45-day congressional notification period concluded.
President Donald Trump initiated this move in July, informing Congress that Syria’s government had stopped supporting acts of international terrorism. “I have also removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” Rubio declared.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa claims a diplomatic victory as the U.S. takes Syria off the terrorism blacklist, facilitating investment opportunities. Rubio emphasized that these actions reflect a substantial step by President Trump to offer the Syrian population a path to prosperity. Over the previous year, Washington applied unprecedented measures to ease sanctions on Syrians.
In June 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions,” expediting sanction removals by ending the Syria Sanctions Program and lifting the national emergency concerning Syria. This order also involved reviews of other related sanctions and terrorist labels. Rubio noted these developments acknowledge positive measures and commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, ensuring Syria fully separates from international terrorism.
Al-Sharaa ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, supported by HTS rebels. Syria had appeared on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list since 1979.
During the past year, the Syrian regime took extensive counterterrorism steps, including formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations to disrupt terror networks linked to ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-related groups. Rubio remarked that removing Syria’s terror sponsorship designation and HTS’s designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist clears the path for private investment in Syria and promotes economic recovery and global reintegration.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani mentioned to Reuters that lifting the designation would facilitate Syria’s reconnection to the international financial system, encouraging post-war investments. “There is no longer any obstacle to investment, conducting business, and rebuilding the economic life in Syria,” he asserted. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed this sentiment, stating that the decision aligns with President Trump’s promise to deliver sanctions relief.
The governor of Syria’s Central Bank labeled the lifting of Syria’s designation as state sponsor of terrorism a “historic step,” reinstating Syria’s position in the global economic landscape. Additionally, President Trump shared a photo on Truth Social showing al-Sharaa and al-Shibani with his signed executive order on sanctions relief.
Cuba, Iran, and North Korea continue to be listed by Washington as state sponsors of terrorism.