U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following the conclusion of the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period. In an action taken on August 24, Secretary Rubio also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). “These actions,” the Secretary said, “represent another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity.”
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. In the past year, the Government of Syria has taken significant steps to counter terrorism, to include formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations to disrupt the terror networks of ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-aligned groups. Rescinding Syria’s designation as an SST and HTS’ designation as an SDGT eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.
An advisory published by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and State affirms that “The United States is committed to supporting a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria that may now contribute to regional security and integration. Removal of comprehensive U.S. sanctions has promoted Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, provide prosperity for all its citizens, including members of ethnic and religious minorities, and combat terrorism.”
The advisory notes that on May 13, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria to give the country a chance at peace and prosperity. In June 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14312, which formally removed U.S. sanctions and directed agencies to take additional measures, to encourage U.S. private sector and foreign partner re-engagement in Syria. The United States no longer imposes comprehensive sanctions on Syria and Syrian institutions and U.S. sanctions no longer act as a barrier to most business in Syria. Congress repealed the Caesar Act, which aimed to hold the Assad government accountable for human rights abuses, in 2025.
Sanctions remain on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon drug traffickers, and other destabilizing regional actors who remain on the Department of the Treasury’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List).
President Trump and his Administration are committed to helping bring peace and prosperity to the Syrian people.