US Treasury officially amends state sponsor of terrorism regulations following Syria’s removal from the list

The U.S. Treasury Department 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 Department said it had eliminated a regulatory provision containing a specific general license for Syria, as it is no longer necessary following the country’s removal from the state sponsor of terrorism designation. It noted that Part 596 of the regulatory framework was amended after it became unnecessary in light of the recent legal change.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that this amendment is not subject to notice-and-comment procedures, as it pertains to a matter of foreign affairs, and that the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply. It emphasized that any willful violation of the amended regulations may subject the violator to criminal penalties under U.S. law.

Previously, on August 24, OFAC at the U.S. Treasury Department officially amended the sanctions regulations to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This followed the completion of the legal procedures associated with the Congressional review, which concluded without any objections, in accordance with the notice issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to Congress on July 8 regarding the initiation of the de-designation process.

This U.S. decision marked a significant milestone in Syria’s transition, 47 years after it was first added to the list, and opened the door to broader prospects for political, economic, and security relations with various countries.