US Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List, Leaving Cuba, Iran, and North Korea

The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism (SSOT), marking a major turning point in relations between Washington and Damascus after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 following 14 years of civil war. The decision took effect after a 45-day congressional review period and was announced by President Donald Trump, who had indicated the move since July.

In a speech on Tuesday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared: "Today, Syria sheds the stain and closes a painful chapter of the past to embark on a journey of development, reconstruction, and building."

The U.S. SSOT list imposes restrictions on foreign aid, defense exports, certain financial transactions, and transfers of dual-use goods. Being listed also made banks and businesses hesitant to cooperate due to legal and compliance risks.

Why Syria Was Removed

Syria had been on the SSOT list since 1979, when Washington accused President Hafez al-Assad's government of backing armed groups against Israel. The designation continued under his son Bashar al-Assad, who ruled from 2000 until being ousted in a lightning offensive in December 2024 led by rebel groups under Ahmed al-Sharaa. Assad and his family are currently seeking supervised asylum in Moscow.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision to remove Syria from the list came after "formal commitments" from President al-Sharaa that the country would not "support international terrorist acts in the future." Washington also acknowledged cooperation between al-Sharaa's government and the U.S. in the campaign against ISIL (ISIS), which had controlled large parts of Syrian territory from 2013 to 2019.

Al-Sharaa had previously led the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, before breaking with the group in 2016. Remaining on the SSOT list was a major obstacle for potential investors in Syria even after the U.S. lifted broad economic sanctions in 2025.

Sina Azodi, an assistant professor of Middle East politics at George Washington University, said the removal brings "many benefits." "It makes access to the U.S.-dominated international financial and banking system easier, thereby promoting trade, investment, and diplomatic ties," the expert told Al Jazeera.

The Three Remaining Countries and Why

Iran: The U.S. has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984, following the Islamic Revolution and deteriorating bilateral ties. Washington accuses Tehran of backing armed groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various groups in Iraq and Syria. The designation has led to sanctions targeting Iran's government, financial system, military, and oil industry. On Monday, the U.S. announced a new round of economic sanctions aimed at Tehran and foreign entities allegedly facilitating trade with Iran, amid a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that has reached a diplomatic impasse.

Cuba: U.S.-Cuba relations have been tense since the 1959 Cuban Revolution, when Fidel Castro overthrew U.S.-backed President Fulgencio Batista. Cuba was added to the list in 1982 over allegations that Havana supported armed revolutionary groups. President Barack Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015 during a brief thaw in relations, but Trump reimposed the designation in January 2021. The Biden administration announced its intention to remove Cuba again in January 2025, but Trump reversed the decision upon returning to office. Starting January 29, the Trump administration also imposed a fuel blockade causing difficulties for Cuba and threatened tariffs on any country exporting fuel to the island.

North Korea: North Korea was first listed in 1988, primarily due to its involvement in the bombing of Korean Air Flight 858 in 1987, which killed all 115 people on board. Washington removed North Korea from the list in 2008 as part of negotiations over its nuclear program, but reimposed it in 2017 during Trump's first term. North Korea continues to face extensive sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, weapons proliferation, and other security concerns.

Other Countries Under Sanctions

Beyond the SSOT list, the U.S. has numerous other sanctions programs. Russia is facing heavy sanctions over its war in Ukraine, though Washington has so far not added Russia to the state sponsors of terrorism list despite calls from some lawmakers. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate passed a bill imposing tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil and gas, which could affect China and India if passed by the House.

Venezuela also faces a range of U.S. sanctions targeting its leadership and oil industry, especially under Trump's second term. Trump justified the sanctions as efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking, although Venezuela exports almost no fentanyl, which the administration has made the focus of its crackdown. In January 2026, former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were kidnapped during a U.S. military operation after prolonged tensions. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who is more pro-U.S. and controls the oil industry, had her personal sanctions lifted in April. The U.S. also eased sanctions on Venezuela's central bank and granted temporary licenses for U.S. businesses to operate in certain oil, mining, and financial sectors, though these could be revoked at any time.

Impacts of the List

Filmmaker and independent journalist Ed Augustin, who lives in Cuba, said being on the list "definitely makes life worse for ordinary Cubans" because it "pollutes Cuba's image in the global financial system, making Cuba an outcast." He cited Cuba's difficulties in purchasing machinery and chemicals for pharmaceutical production, as many companies, even outside the U.S., refuse to sell due to compliance concerns.

Independent UN human rights experts have expressed concern over Cuba's re-listing, calling it "a step backward not only for bilateral relations but for human rights and the welfare of the Cuban people," with the most severe impact on vulnerable groups. They also condemned the fuel blockade, saying that calling Cuba an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. security is unfounded.

Syrian political analyst Ruslan Trad, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration's acceptance of President al-Sharaa shows that the SSOT list operates more as leverage in bilateral relations and a strategic signal than an objective counterterrorism assessment. "For Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, the lack of similar relief means continued isolation from global finance, even if the original reasons for listing, especially for Cuba, are considered outdated," he told Al Jazeera.