- The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) after 47 years, lifting what it described as the final major barriers for private sector investment in the country.
- On August 24, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the rescission of Syria's SST designation and the delisting of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) after the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period.
- The Treasury Department has implemented sanctions relief, allowing U.S. financial institutions to provide services to Syria, which is expected to promote political and economic stability.
- In July 2025, the U.S. announced its intent to delist Syria and terminated comprehensive sanctions, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy towards the country.
- Syria had remained on the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list since 1979, when the U.S. accused the government of former President Hafez al-Assad of supporting militant groups.
- The June 2025 Executive Order titled 'Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions' accelerated the sanctions relief process by terminating the Syria Sanctions Program.
- The U.S. Treasury has stated that American financial institutions can now process payments involving Syrian banks and establish correspondent banking relationships, provided sanctioned parties are not involved.
The United States has officially removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list after 47 years, a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. This decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also includes the delisting of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a global terrorist organization.12
The U.S. Department of State stated that this action aims to foster private investment in Syria, which has been severely hampered by the previous designation. “Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.34
The U.S. had initially indicated its intent to delist Syria in July, coinciding with a meeting between President Trump and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at a NATO summit in Turkey. “Today, I authorized the formal rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism,” Rubio stated, emphasizing the Syrian government's efforts to distance itself from terrorism.5
Syria's removal from the list leaves only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran as the remaining countries designated by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism. The Trump administration's support for al-Sharaa, a former militant, marks a notable change in U.S. relations with Syria, which has been under sanctions since 1979.6
The Syrian government has taken steps to counter terrorism, including joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and disrupting terror networks. “This is another historic step aimed at giving the Syrian people a path to prosperity,” Rubio added, highlighting the potential for economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.
“The delisting leaves Cuba, Iran, and North Korea as the only remaining state sponsors. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action will "help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability," while Syria's finance minister held talks with Bank of America over reintegration.”
Firstpost
BBC
