Trump notifies Congress of plan to delist Syria as terror sponsor

US President Donald Trump has formally notified Congress of his decision to remove Syria from the United States list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, marking the latest step in his administration’s effort to restore ties with the country after decades of diplomatic isolation.

The notification, submitted to Congress on Wednesday, triggers a mandatory 45-day review period required under US law. If lawmakers do not object, Syria will be removed from the terrorism list, ending a designation that has been in place since 1979.

The move follows a series of policy changes initiated by the Trump administration last year. During a visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2025, Trump announced that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria to support the country’s recovery following years of civil war and political upheaval.

That announcement was followed by an Executive Order signed on June 30, 2025, which revoked most US sanctions on Syria with effect from July 1, 2025. However, the order retained targeted sanctions against former president Bashar al-Assad, members of his former government, human rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, individuals linked to Syria’s past weapons programmes, ISIS, al-Qaeda affiliates, Iran and its proxies.

Removing Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is a separate legal process. The designation has long restricted US foreign assistance, defence exports, financial transactions and other forms of engagement with Syria.

The White House said the latest action is intended to give the Syrian people a greater opportunity to rebuild their country and strengthen its economy, while maintaining pressure on individuals and groups accused of terrorism and other serious offences.

If Congress does not block the decision within the 45-day review period, Syria will no longer be classified by the United States as a State Sponsor of Terrorism for the first time in more than 46 years, representing one of the most significant shifts in US policy towards Damascus in decades.