Trump moves to remove Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list

President Donald Trump notified Congress that his administration intends to rescind Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, starting a 45-day review before the move can become final. The decision followed Trump’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, tying the policy shift directly to high-level diplomacy.

Ending the designation would help unlock international trade and investment and give Syria a chance to rebuild after nearly 14 years of civil war. The label has long limited access to foreign assistance, defense exports and broader financial engagement, making it one of the most consequential barriers to Syria’s reentry into the global economy.

Syria has been on the state sponsor list since December 29, 1979, and the State Department now says the list includes four countries: Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria. Syria was added because of support for terrorism and terrorist groups, its former occupation of Lebanon, weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, chemical weapons use and efforts to undermine U.S. and international stabilization efforts in Iraq and Syria.

Trump announced on May 13, 2025 that he would lift sanctions on Syria, and in June 2025 the State Department said Syria sanctions were terminated and certain blocked persons were unblocked. The United States no longer maintains a comprehensive Syria sanctions program.

The rescission follows positive changes and counterterrorism actions, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Syria has given formal assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus on July 6-7, 2026, the first state visit by a major Western leader since Bashar al-Assad fell in December 2024.