US begins 45‑day process to remove Syria from state‑sponsor of terrorism list

President Donald Trump notified Congress that the United States will initiate a 45‑day review to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). Secretary of State Marco Rubio said lifting the label will “unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open a new chapter for the Syrian people.” The move follows Executive Order 14312 and a series of earlier steps, including the repeal of the Caesar Act and a Tri‑Seal Advisory that already eased many sanctions.

While the SST designation will remain in effect during the review, the administration plans to keep targeted measures on individuals such as former President Bashar al‑Assad, ISIS‑linked persons, and captagon traffickers. The US Chamber of Commerce welcomed the delisting, noting it reduces legal uncertainty for American firms. Companies such as ConocoPhillips, Novaterra Energy, Hunt Energy, Baker Hughes and Chevron have already taken early steps in Syria. Analysts caution that broader challenges—Iranian financial links, Syria’s placement on the FATF grey list, extensive war‑damaged infrastructure and millions of displaced people—still pose significant risks to investment.