U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Monday that President Donald Trump’s administration has formally authorized the rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, following the completion of the mandatory forty-five-day congressional notification period.

Rubio said the decision ushers in a new phase intended to give the Syrian people the opportunity to rebuild and move forward. He noted that over the past year, the administration had taken unprecedented steps to ease sanctions on Syria, pointing to an executive order issued in June 2025 titled “Providing for the Rescission of Sanctions with Respect to Syria.” That order accelerated the review and termination of existing sanctions programs, along with the national emergencies underpinning them. Rubio also instructed relevant agencies to examine a series of related punitive classifications and measures.

According to Rubio, these policy shifts reflect Washington’s recognition of the actions undertaken by the Syrian government and the additional commitments made under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, all aimed at ensuring that Syria remains free from international terrorism. He highlighted that over the past year, Damascus had taken significant steps in counterterrorism efforts, including formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and conducting operations targeting networks affiliated with ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and elements linked to Iran and the Hezbollah militia. He emphasized that these groups have been responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and widespread human rights violations.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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