- President Donald Trump notified Congress on Wednesday of his intent to rescind Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, a status Syria has held since 1979.
- The notification opens a 45-day review period before the designation is removed, according to the State Department.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move is “another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness.”
- Syria’s designation has been in place since 1979 over its hostility to Israel, support for terrorist groups, and development of weapons of mass destruction, according to a Congressional Research Service report.
- The change follows the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the installation of an interim government under former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Trump’s June 2025 executive order ending most U.S. sanctions on Damascus.
Rubio, Shaheen back designation lift after Assad ouster
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump informed Congress on Wednesday of his intent to rescind Syria’s decades-old designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, another step in the rebuilding of U.S.-Syria ties since December 2024.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move in a statement, calling it “another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness.”
“Today marks a significant milestone in the revived U.S.-Syria bilateral relationship and in Syria’s history as a nation,” Rubio said. “We commend the government of Syria for charting a new course and look forward to enhancing our partnership with Syria and its people.”
The notification triggers a 45-day review period before the designation can be formally removed, according to the State Department.
Trump made the announcement while at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he appeared alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former jihadist rebel leader who took power after Assad’s ouster. Trump repeatedly referred to al-Sharaa as “the highly respected president of Syria” during a joint press conference.
Asked by reporters whether he planned to remove Syria from the terrorism list, Trump said, “I think I will.”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” Trump said, turning to Rubio and his aides. “Any problems with that?” Rubio replied “No” with a headshake.
Some Democrats backed the decision. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on X, “I’m glad to see @StateDept announce its plans to remove Syria’s SST designation, as I called for last week.”
Syria was among the first countries designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, according to a Congressional Research Service report, over its hostility to Israel, its fighting in Lebanon, its partnership with Iran, its alignment with Russia, its support for terrorist groups, and its development of weapons of mass destruction. The designation triggers sanctions that deny foreign assistance, ban defense exports and sales, impose controls over dual-use items, and create financial restrictions.
Since Assad’s fall, relations have steadily improved. The Trump administration signed an executive order in June 2025 ending most U.S. sanctions on Damascus. Last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced legislation to repeal remaining sanctions imposed over Assad’s destabilizing activities.
As previously reported by MSI, the Senate panel advanced that bill on June 18, and the administration moved to reopen the U.S. embassy in Damascus in May after a 14-year closure.
Safwat Raslan, the governor of the Central Bank of Syria, welcomed the decision, calling it “a positive turning point for Syria’s economic recovery” that “strengthens confidence and opens the door to greater financial reintegration.” The U.S. trade deficit stood at about $820 billion as of the announcement date.