Syria moves closer to removal from U.S. terrorism list: what it means 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration has initiated procedures to remove Syria from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

The announcement followed a meeting with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye. Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump confirmed his intention to move forward with the delisting, saying in response to a question: "I think I will."

Hours after the meeting, Trump formally notified Congress of his intention to revoke Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, triggering the 45-day review period required under U.S. law before the decision can take effect, unless Congress blocks it through the established legal process.

Trump also handed Ahmed al-Sharaa an official letter dated July 8, 2026, confirming that he had informed Congress of the decision. In the letter, he said the move "will remove obstacles to Syria's reconstruction," adding that U.S. companies are now prepared to invest in the country and contribute to rebuilding efforts.

Damascus: A historic step toward a new phase

Following the U.S. announcement, Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the decision, describing it as the beginning of resolving one of the major issues that has hindered Syria's economic and political reintegration into the international community.

What is the State Sponsors of Terrorism list?

The State Sponsors of Terrorism list is one of the U.S. State Department's principal foreign policy tools. It includes countries that Washington determines have repeatedly provided support for what it classifies as acts of international terrorism.

Countries designated on the list face a wide range of restrictions, including:

- A ban on most U.S. foreign assistance.

- A prohibition on arms exports and military sales.

- Strict controls on exports of dual-use items.

- Broad financial and banking restrictions.

- Tight limits on investment and other economic transactions.

The designation also discourages international financial institutions and private companies from engaging with the listed country, even where direct U.S. sanctions may not apply.

Why was Syria added to the list?

The United States designated Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979 during the presidency of Hafez al-Assad, citing what it said was Damascus' support for several Palestinian and Lebanese groups that Washington classified as terrorist organizations, as well as allegations that Syria provided support or safe haven to certain armed groups in the region.

The designation remained in place over the following decades. After the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the United States significantly expanded its sanctions through multiple rounds of economic measures, including the Caesar Act, as well as sanctions targeting officials and institutions associated with the former Ba'athist government.

How is a country removed from the list?

Removing a country from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list follows procedures established under U.S. law and cannot be accomplished solely through a presidential declaration.

The process begins when the U.S. president determines that the circumstances leading to the country's designation have fundamentally changed, or that the government concerned no longer supports international terrorism and has provided assurances that it will not do so in the future.

The president then formally notifies Congress of the intention to rescind the designation, triggering a 45-day review period.

During that time, Congress may theoretically block the decision by passing legislation to prevent it. However, doing so requires completion of the normal legislative process, including overriding a presidential veto if one is issued, making it politically and legally difficult to stop the decision.

If Congress does not successfully prevent the action within the review period, the removal automatically takes effect once the 45 days expire.

What would delisting mean for Syria?

Although removing Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list would not automatically lift all U.S. sanctions, it would eliminate one of the most significant legal and political barriers to restoring economic and financial relations with the United States.

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ANHA