US Treasury formally amends list of state sponsors of terrorism after removing Syria

The US Department of the Treasury announced yesterday an amendment to the sanctions regulations concerning state sponsors of terrorism, following the removal of Syria from that list. In a statement on its official website, the Treasury said it had eliminated a regulatory provision that included a general license for Syria, as it was no longer necessary after Syria’s declassification as a state sponsor of terrorism. It noted that Part 596 of the regulations had been amended because it had become redundant in light of the recent legal change.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that this amendment was not subject to notice-and-comment procedures, as it pertained to a foreign affairs matter, and was not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act. It emphasized that any willful violation of the amended regulations could expose the offender to criminal penalties under US law.

OFAC had officially issued the sanctions regulations on August 24 last year, announcing the removal of Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This followed the completion of the congressional review process without any objections, in accordance with a notification sent by US President Donald Trump to Congress on July 8 last year regarding the initiation of the declassification procedure.

The US decision marks a significant milestone in Syria’s transformation after 47 years on the list, opening the door to broader prospects for political, economic, and security relations with various countries.