US lifts Syria's terror designation after 47 years
The Trump administration also took Hayat Tahrir al-Sham off its blacklist of Specially Designated Global Terrorist organizations.
WASHINGTON — The United States has formally removed Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism on Monday, a step that paves the way for greater commercial investment in the war-torn country.
“Treasury is following through on President Trump’s promise to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability.”
Syria was one of four countries on the State Department’s SST list along with Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Imposed on Syria in 1979, the designation carried restrictions on US foreign assistance, defense sales and the export of certain dual-use goods.
Following a meeting between President Donald Trump and his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara last month, the Trump administration informed Congress that it would be lifting Syria’s SST designation following a 45-day notification period. The window for review expired on Friday without an attempt by lawmakers to block the rescission, a US official said.
The Trump administration also revoked the designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. The designation of Sharaa's now-disbanded rebel group had little practical effect as a result of waivers and licenses issued by Trump last summer that permit dealings with the Syrian government.
Sharaa, a former rebel leader once designated as a terrorist by the US government, led a coalition of armed groups that toppled former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Trump has embraced Sharaa’s new government and pledged to lift all US sanctions on the country during the pair’s initial meeting in May 2025.
Over the past year, the Trump administration has rescinded layers of US sanctions through executive orders, eased export controls and worked with Congress to lift Syrian sanctions under the Caesar Act.
The SST label was a key legal reason many tech products including equipment and software require licenses to export to Syria, even after Washington has relaxed broader sanctions on the country. A second US official said the Commerce Department could issue new guidance on export controls related to Syria by the end of the month, but cautioned that the process may take longer.
This developing story has been updated since initial publication.
