Trump announces removal of Syria from US list of state sponsors of terrorism

President Donald Trump on Wednesday informed his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al Sharaa that he had decided to remove the country from the US list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. "I promised to remove all barriers stopping you from rebuilding your country, and very soon, you will finally be able to do so," Trump wrote in a letter to Sharaa seen by Reuters. "We have US companies ready to invest in Syria and help make your country greater and more prosperous than ever before," he added.

A senior US administration official said the letter was handed to Sharaa after their meeting in Ankara on Wednesday. Trump said he had notified Congress, which will now conduct a 45-day review before the decision can take effect. The designation as a state sponsor of terrorism carries restrictions on US foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.

Syria Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan said the move opens up broader opportunities for investment, economic recovery and Syria's reintegration into the global economy, according to a post on Telegram. Last year, Trump signed an executive order terminating a US sanctions program on Syria, allowing an end to the country's isolation from the international financial system.

Several Saudi firms are planning billion-dollar investments as part of Riyadh's efforts to support Syria's recovery, while other Gulf states have also pledged financial assistance. Trump on Wednesday praised Sharaa, who was a commander of al Qaeda's Nusra Front in Syria before cutting ties with the group in 2016. He later led a coalition of Islamist rebel factions that toppled Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. "He's respected by everybody, including me," Trump said.