Trump Moves to Delist Syria as State Sponsor of Terrorism After Rubio Assurances

The United States moved to remove Syria’s designation as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” a decades-old label that the US said severely impeded investment, in a decision tied to President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“Trump says he'll remove Syria as state sponsor of terrorism for the first time since 1979 It's a remarkable turnaround for al-Sharaa, who once led an al-Qaeda affiliate”

ABC News

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement published on Wednesday, “This is yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness,” as Trump met al-Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkiye.

ABC News

Rubio said the delisting would be effective in 45 days unless lawmakers took the step of blocking it, and he said the move followed “formal assurances” from al-Sharaa that “Syria will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”

The Al Jazeera report said the US had listed Syria as a “state sponsor of terrorism” since 1979, and it described the label as a remaining legal risk for businesses operating in the United States while Syria sought economic support to rebuild after years of war.

Trump’s delisting decision was presented as part of a broader shift in Washington’s posture toward Damascus after Trump met al-Sharaa in Ankara, Turkiye, and praised him for unifying Syria.

Trump told reporters, “I think I will, why wouldn’t I? He's done a great job,” referring to al-Sharaa, according to the Washington Times report.

Al Jazeera

Rubio said the administration commended the government of Syria “for charting a new course” and said removing the designation would “unlock international trade and investment” and give Syria “a chance to rebuild,” framing the change as a “significant milestone” in the renewed relationship.

The Hill reported that Rubio issued a statement after Congress was notified Wednesday of Trump’s intention to lift the designation, following a 45-day pre-notification period, and it quoted Rubio’s line that “Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment” and “open up a new chapter for the Syrian people.”

The delisting is described as clearing a major obstacle for Syria’s economic recovery by lifting restrictions tied to the state sponsor label, which carries limits on U.S. foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.

Reuters coverage cited by SRN News said Syria Central Bank Gov. Safwat Raslan told a post on Telegram that the move “opens wider aspects of investments and economic recovery and the reintegration of Syria into the global economy.”

The Hill added that rebuilding the country after more than a decade of civil war is estimated to cost $216 billion, and it said the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act repeal in December provided a major opening while the terrorism designation still blocked Syria from significant U.S. assistance.

ABC News said the delisting would mark “one of the final obstacles blocking the country from fully rejoining the international financial system,” and it noted the other countries on the list are Cuba, Iran and North Korea, while Syria’s designation had been in place since 1979.