Sanctions relief and the delisting of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
Economic reintegration and diplomatic optimism
The Ankara framework and Israeli security concerns
International support and the status of religious minorities
As of this week, Syria has been formally delisted by the United States from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list, taking a strategic step despite reservations voiced by Israel. Washington now maintains only three countries under this specific designation: Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.
To varying degrees, each remains under sanctions overseen by the White House, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), the US Department of the Treasury, and the US Department of State, headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York – REUTERS/ BING GUAN
Sanctions relief and the delisting of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
The decision to remove Syria from the blacklist was welcomed in Damascus as well as by international partners in London, Ottawa, and across the European Union, where governments had already initiated calibrated easing of financial sanctions and travel restrictions on Syrian state entities and officials.
In parallel, Washington officially removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front, from its Foreign Terrorist Organization registry. The group was previously headed by the current Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, having originated as an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria before severing all operational and ideological ties in 2016 to rebrand under its current structure.
Israeli military vehicles deployed near the Golan Heights demarcation line – REUTERS/ AYAL MARGOLIN
Economic reintegration and diplomatic optimism
US and Syrian officials share the assessment that Damascus is entering a transformative economic phase. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the measure removes key barriers to foreign direct investment, noting that private capital inflows will support domestic reconstruction and accelerate Syria’s reintegration into the global economy in line with multilateral frameworks established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa similarly remarked that the country is turning the page on decades of economic isolation to focus on institutional modernisation and infrastructure development. These remarks were reiterated by cabinet officials, including Finance Minister Mohamed Yisr Barnieh and leadership at the Central Bank of Syria.
Government authorities highlighted that priority objectives include reconnecting domestic banks to international payment networks, facilitating industrial technology transfers, and establishing a transparent, stable financial framework.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa – REUTERS/ YVES HERMAN
The Ankara framework and Israeli security concerns
The diplomatic agreement took shape on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara in early July. During bilateral consultations held at the presidential complex, US President Donald Trump and President Ahmed al-Sharaa established direct dialogue that solidified Washington’s decision to shift its policy toward Damascus, despite ongoing objections from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—maintaining its position over the Golan Heights occupied following the 1967 Six-Day War—has continued targeted military strikes within Syrian territory, citing regional security risks and alleged Turkish troop deployments, claims formally rejected by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
International support and the status of religious minorities
President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s diplomatic outreach has secured growing international engagement from Western capitals and regional powers, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which previously supported high-level US engagement to foster institutional stability and territorial governance in Syria.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani – REUTERS/ KHALIL ASHAWI
This diplomatic momentum was reinforced by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), who following an official mission to Damascus urged the international community to lift unilateral economic sanctions to assist humanitarian relief and reconstruction.
Meanwhile, former president Bashar al-Assad remains in exile in Moscow under judicial condemnation and the protection of the Russian government.
Concurrently, representatives of various minority groups, including historic Christian communities, have voiced serious concerns regarding civil security and local governance, stressing that sustainable national recovery requires structural legal guarantees for minority rights and interfaith protection across the country.