U.S. Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List

On August 24, the United States announced that Syria was removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979. The change took effect after a 45-day congressional review period that began when President Donald Trump formally notified Congress on July 8 of his intention to rescind the designation. The Treasury’s website posted the removal, and the Nusrah Front was also stripped of its Specially Designated Global Terrorist status, leaving Cuba, Iran and North Korea as the only remaining listed states.

Reuters

The 1979 designation was based on accusations that the government of Hafez al-Assad supported militant groups. The label persisted through the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad and was not lifted during the mid-2025 overhaul of broader U.S. sanctions, which retained targeted measures against specific individuals and entities. In late 2024, rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa’s HTS seized Damascus, toppling the Assad regime and establishing a transitional government headed by al-Sharaa. Subsequent negotiations with Washington focused on reducing Syrian imports of Russian oil and securing economic concessions in exchange for the delisting.

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• Duration on the list: roughly five decades (1979-2026).

USA removes Syria from the list of terrorist countries

• Remaining designated states after the delisting: Cuba, Iran, North Korea.

USA removes Syria from the list of terrorist countries

• Treasury indicated that U.S. financial institutions may now provide services to Syrian banks, process payments, and establish correspondent relationships, provided sanctioned parties are excluded.

Reuters

U.S. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shiban called the delisting the removal of “the last obstacle” to investment and rebuilding economic life. Finance Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh reported ongoing talks with Bank of America and noted Mastercard’s collaboration with QNB Group and Syria’s central bank to prepare international card-payment infrastructure.

Reuters

• “These actions were all taken in recognition of the positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism,” — U.S. Secretary, of State Marco Rubio

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• “Today's action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability,” — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

US removes Syria from state sponsors of terror list

• “We have closed a dark chapter in the history of Syria with the end of this classification imposed by the policies of the former regime of 1979,” — Al Shaibani, in which the head of Damascus diplomacy applauds the decision

USA removes Syria from the list of terrorist countries

The Syrian finance ministry said Bank of America executives are willing to visit Syria to discuss potential cooperation. Mastercard has announced plans to work with QNB Group and the Syrian central bank to develop card-payment infrastructure. These steps signal a focus on reconnecting Syria to global financial networks and attracting foreign investment for reconstruction.

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