Syria's four-decade classification by Washington as a government sponsor of terrorism formally ended, ending a designation imposed in 1979. The change appeared on the US Treasury website after a 45-day congressional review that began when President Donald Trump notified lawmakers on July 8.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognized steps and commitments by President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government to separate Syria from international terrorism. Damascus welcomed the move and portrayed it as a route toward economic recovery, reconstruction and closer international cooperation. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani had called the listing the final major obstacle to reconnecting the country with global financial networks and attracting investment.
The designation had restricted foreign assistance, defence transactions, certain dual-use exports and financial activity. Even after Washington dismantled its wider Syria sanctions programme, the listing continued to create legal and compliance concerns for banks and businesses. The Trump administration ended comprehensive sanctions in July 2025 while retaining targeted measures covering former president Bashar al-Assad and associates, human-rights abusers, drug traffickers, Islamic State, al-Qaeda affiliates and Iranian proxies.
Syria entered the terrorism list under Hafez al-Assad, whom Washington accused of supporting militant organizations. It remained designated throughout the rule of his son, Bashar, until rebels led by al-Sharaa removed him in December 2024. The latest action also ended the Nusrah Front's status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain the countries on Washington's state-sponsor list.
Commercial interest had begun to surface before the formal delisting. Syria's Finance Ministry reported talks between Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh and Bank of America executives about possible cooperation and the country's return to international finance. In May, Mastercard disclosed a project with QNB Group and the Syrian central bank to prepare international card-payment infrastructure. Treasury guidance has said US institutions may serve Syria, handle payments involving its banks and create correspondent relationships when sanctioned parties are not involved.
Trump moved toward delisting after meeting al-Sharaa in Ankara in July. The policy followed months of discussions about Syria's foreign and economic direction, alongside US praise for cooperation against Islamic State. Syria's central-bank governor, Safwat Raslan, said his institution sought a modern, dependable financial system.
Removal does not erase every restriction or guarantee investment. It does, however, eliminate a longstanding federal classification that had discouraged financial institutions even after broader sanctions relief. Syria's government said it hoped additional steps would remove the remaining constraints on recovery.
The federal change followed a July presidential notice rather than taking effect immediately on announcement. Congressional review ran its full stated 45-day period before Treasury posted the removal. That sequence matters for companies evaluating compliance because the legal status changed only after the review process concluded.
