President Donald Trump has officially notified Congress of his plan to remove Syria from the United States State Sponsors of Terrorism list. This action marks a significant shift in diplomatic policy, aiming to improve relations with Damascus after decades of hostility. The notification triggered a 45-day congressional review period mandated by law. If lawmakers do not block the request, Syria will be removed from the list, ending a status it has held since 1979.
This initiative follows several policy adjustments by the White House, including an executive order from June 30, 2025, that lifted the majority of sanctions against Syria. While these broad economic restrictions have been eased, targeted sanctions remain in place against former President Bashar al-Assad, human rights offenders, narcotics traffickers, and entities associated with terrorism or weapons programs. The White House stated that this move is designed to assist in Syrian economic recovery and national reconstruction efforts.
