\n The end of the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation would make it easier for international banks, investors and governments to engage with Syria [Getty]<\/p>\n
Syria is expected to be formally removed from the United States\u2019 list of State Sponsors of Terrorism <\/a>on Saturday, clearing what is widely seen as the last major legal barrier to broad sanctions relief <\/a>and deeper reintegration into the world economy.<\/p>\n The move follows US President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to rescind Syria\u2019s “terrorism” designation, which had been in place since 1979. The State Department notified Congress of its intention on 8 July, starting a legally mandated 45-day review period that is due to expire on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n Unless Congress acts to block the decision before the deadline, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to issue the final determination and publish the removal in the Federal Register.<\/p>\n In comments to The New Arab, a State Department spokesperson said Rubio\u2019s July recommendation to revoke the designation reflected his assessment that Syria had met the legal and political conditions required for removal.<\/p>\n The spokesperson did not say whether members of Congress had lodged formal objections. However, Congress has broadly supported the Trump administration\u2019s push over the past 18 months to rescind sanctions imposed on Damascus, suggesting that a last-minute challenge is unlikely.<\/p>\n Syria\u2019s removal from the list would not mean an end to all US measures against Syrian citizens. Washington is expected to retain targeted terrorism, human rights and corruption sanctions on figures and entities linked to the former Assad regime, including those accused of abuses during Syria\u2019s civil war.<\/p>\n Major shift after decades of sanctions<\/p>\n Washington first listed Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979, placing it alongside other governments it accused of repeatedly supporting acts of “international terrorism”.<\/p>\n The designation was followed by successive waves of sanctions. In May 2004, the United States imposed further measures over allegations that Damascus supported terrorism, pursued weapons of mass destruction and maintained a military presence in Lebanon.<\/p>\n