On October 21 (US time), the US Treasury announced that it had officially removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a decades-long designation imposed during the government of former President Bashar al-Assad. The move was unveiled after weeks of planning and awaited review by the US Congress.
According to the Treasury's statement, the decision also includes revoking the designation of the al-Nusrah Front—the group once led by current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani—from the list of global terrorist organizations. The group later rebranded as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and played a pivotal role in the lightning military campaign that toppled Assad's government in December 2024.
The removal of the designation is significant in clearing major hurdles to investment in Syria, as the Middle Eastern country strives to rebuild and carve out a new position within the international community. Previously, the US and the European Union (EU) had lifted economic sanctions on Syria starting in June 2025. Washington had signaled in July that it would remove Syria from the terrorism list, citing al-Sharaa's efforts to unify the country.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: “Today’s action will help spur additional investment into Syria, thereby reinforcing political and economic stability.” He emphasized that the move is “consistent with President Donald Trump's commitment to lifting sanctions on Syria.”
Under the Assad government, Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism triggered restrictions on foreign aid, defense exports, and financial transactions. As a result, Washington's decision is being welcomed positively by Syrian financial authorities.
Central Bank of Syria Governor Safwat Raslan wrote on social media platform X that this is “a historic step that returns the country to its natural place in the global economic system,” and indicated that the bank is “working to build a modern and reliable financial system.” Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh called the decision “a great and historic success of Syrian diplomacy,” opening the door for Syria to enhance integration into the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and modern technology.
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack described the end of the designation as “a decisive step in Syria's remarkable journey from isolation to cooperation, and from being a source of terrorism to a committed partner in the global fight against terrorism.”
