White House informs Congress it intends to rescind Syria’s designation as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’

The White House has informed Congress that it intends to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says in a statement.

A 45-day notification day period is required before the decision can be made final.

“Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open up a new chapter for the Syrian people. A stable, unified Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors benefits not only the region, but the entire world,” Rubio says.

“The rescission follows President Trump’s June 30, 2025, executive order directing sanctions relief for Syria, the positive changes and counterterrorism actions taken by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and formal assurances provided by President al-Sharaa that Syria will not support acts of international terrorism in the future,” Rubio adds.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the revived US-Syria bilateral relationship and in Syria’s history as a nation. We commend the government of Syria for charting a new course and look forward to enhancing our partnership with Syria and its people,” he says.