Syria welcomes Washington's initiation of procedures to remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism

Syria welcomed the United States’ announcement that it has begun procedures to remove its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, following the receipt by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa of a message from his American counterpart, Donald Trump, informing him of the initiation of procedures to lift the designation, which was imposed in 1979 due to the policies of the former regime.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that the American announcement, which came after talks between Trump and al-Sharaa in Ankara, represents “a significant development in the trajectory of Syria-US relations, based on dialogue, mutual respect, and shared interests.” It added that lifting the designation, alongside the termination of sanctions, would enhance prospects for economic recovery, pave the way for reconstruction, and encourage trade and investment.

Earlier, Syrian President al-Sharaa had received a message from his American counterpart confirming that Congress had been notified of his decision to begin procedures to remove Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Trump clarified in his message that, in accordance with the law, Congress would conduct a 45-day review to finalize the decision, noting that this step is part of removing obstacles to Syria’s reconstruction.

Trump affirmed the existence of US companies ready to invest in Syria and contribute to making it more prosperous than ever, expressing his anticipation of the positive impact of the decision on the Syrian people and the deepening of the partnership between the two countries.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani wrote on the X platform in the evening: “A black page in Syria’s history has been closed.” Shibani attached to his post a photo showing him with President al-Sharaa as they returned from Ankara, carrying the US president’s message.

For his part, Finance Minister Mohammad Yasser al-Barneesi stated in a post on his Facebook page that the decision “paves the way to enhance investment, accelerate economic recovery, and reintegrate Syria into the global economy.”