U.S. Takes Syria Off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List After 47 Years and Delists the Nusrah Front

The United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, ending a designation in place since 1979. The removal, posted on the Treasury Department's website, took effect after the 45-day congressional review period triggered when Trump formally notified Congress on July 8. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the actions were 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." The announcement also removed the Nusrah Front's designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization.

Sharaa is the former commander of al Qaeda's Nusra Front who broke with the network in 2016 and led the coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The delisting removes the last major legal and compliance barrier for banks and investors, and followed months of negotiation, including a reported Syrian agreement to cut Russian oil imports.

Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain designated. The administration had already terminated comprehensive Syria sanctions in July 2025 while keeping targeted measures against Assad-era figures and others.