US moves to delist Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism list
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin the process of removing Syria from the State Department’s list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. The statement was made after Trump met Syrian interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally notified Congress, triggering the mandatory 45‑day review period before the delisting can take effect.
The removal would lift the legal restrictions that have limited U.S. foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions with Syria since 1979. U.S. officials said the step is intended to unlock international trade and investment, support Syria’s reconstruction and give the Syrian people a new economic opportunity. The decision follows the 2024 overthrow of Bashar al‑Assad, the subsequent rise of al‑Sharaa, earlier sanctions relief in 2025, and assurances that Syria will not support international terrorism.
Regional actors, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council, welcomed the move as a boost for Syrian stability and reconstruction, while Israel expressed reservations. After the delisting, only Cuba, Iran and North Korea would remain on the U.S. terror‑sponsor list.