Trump Says He May Remove Syria From U.S. Terrorism Sponsor List

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published July 8, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes the United States may remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, in what could become a major shift in Washington’s policy toward Damascus after decades of isolation and restrictions.

According to Reuters, Trump made the remarks during a meeting in Turkey with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as the U.S. administration continues to review Syria’s legal designation and the sanctions linked to it. The state sponsor of terrorism label imposes wide restrictions on foreign assistance, defence exports and certain financial transactions, while also affecting Syria’s ability to attract international financing and investment.

The possible move follows earlier U.S. steps to ease sanctions on Syria. The U.S. Treasury Department said Trump issued an executive order in 2025 removing broad U.S. sanctions on Syria, while keeping targeted sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, ISIS and al-Qaida affiliates, and Iran-linked actors.

For Syria’s new government, removing the designation would be one of the most important steps toward economic recovery. Even after parts of the sanctions regime were eased, the terrorism listing remains a major obstacle for banks, international institutions and private companies that fear legal and financial risks when dealing with Damascus.

The issue is also politically sensitive in Washington. Supporters of delisting argue that Syria’s current reality has changed after the fall of the Assad regime, and that keeping the country on the list could block reconstruction, investment and financial reintegration. Critics warn that removing the designation too quickly, without clear conditions, could weaken U.S. leverage on counterterrorism, human rights and political guarantees.

The potential decision also carries a wider regional dimension. Gulf countries and other regional players have shown growing interest in supporting Syria’s reconstruction, while Damascus is seeking to return to the international financial and diplomatic system after years of war and isolation.

If Washington moves forward, removing Syria from the list would not be a simple administrative change. It would send a major political and economic message that the United States is prepared to open a new page with Damascus, while leaving Syria’s new leadership facing a difficult test: proving that political and security change is real, sustainable and credible to the international community.