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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa welcomed the U.S. decision to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move put the country on a path toward reconstruction and development.
"Today, Syria is shedding a dark stain from its shoulders and tearing up with its own hands a page from its painful past to move into a new space of development, reconstruction and building," al-Sharaa said early Tuesday in a video posted on X.
"Great people of Syria, you have done it again. Sanctions have been lifted from you and restrictions have been removed."
Sharaa congratulated Syrians on the formal removal and thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the "historic decision," as well as others who supported Syria.
The U.S. State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, fulfilling Trump’s commitment to provide sanctions relief to the post-Assad government.
Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Washington also revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization. The Treasury Department removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
General License 25 was also revoked because it was "no longer necessary," according to the Treasury office.
The license had authorized transactions that otherwise would have been prohibited because of the group’s involvement in the government.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognized the Syrian government’s "positive actions" and "further commitments" to "fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism."
Rubio noted that Damascus had taken "significant steps" against Daesh, al-Qaida, Hezbollah and "Iran-aligned groups" and had formally joined the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh last November.
He said removing the terrorism label "eliminates the final major barriers" to private-sector investment, facilitating Syria’s "economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy."
Syria had held the designation since 1979, a status shared only with Cuba, North Korea and Iran. The terrorism label imposed significant barriers on security assistance, financial transactions and foreign investment.
Trump formally notified Congress of his intention to lift the designation on July 8 following a meeting with al-Sharaa in Ankara. The policy shift followed the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and subsequent efforts by Sharaa to stabilize the country.
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed the removal as a “historic milestone,” referring to the end of the designation after 47 years. "We congratulate the Syrian people on this historic milestone," Shaibani said on X.
He said the designation was associated with the policies and practices of the former regime, which was toppled in late 2024, and "was never the choice of the Syrian people, nor was it befitting of Syria and its history."
"This step is the result of the transformation brought about by the Syrian people," Shaibani said, adding that it reflected the new Syrian state’s commitment to international peace and security and to cooperation with the U.S. and countries around the world.
Under al-Sharaa’s leadership, Shaibani said Syria would continue efforts to overcome the "legacy of isolation" and build an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Damascus, Nuh Yilmaz, said the U.S. decision removed a major obstacle to Syria’s integration with the international community and contributed to regional stability.
"The last obstacle standing in the way of our friend and brother Syria’s integration with the world has finally been removed," Yilmaz said on X.
He said Syria’s removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list was important for normalization, stability, and development, as well as peace across the region.
"I congratulate all parties that contributed to the decision," he said. "I hope this decision, which promises a bright future for Syria, will bring benefit to the entire Syrian people and the Syrian state."
Syria is no longer subject to the prohibitions tied to its designation under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, while other U.S. restrictions remain subject to separate legal processes.
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