U.S. President Donald Trump has informed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that he intends to remove Syria from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that could pave the way for greater foreign investment and deeper economic engagement with Washington.
According to a letter seen by Reuters, Trump told Sharaa that his administration was working to eliminate obstacles that have hindered Syria's recovery after years of conflict.
“I promised to remove all barriers stopping you from rebuilding your country, and very soon, you will finally be able to do so,” Trump wrote.
The letter was delivered to Sharaa following a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, according to a senior U.S. administration official.
Trump also said American businesses were ready to play a role in Syria's reconstruction.
“We have U.S. companies ready to invest in Syria and help make your country greater and more prosperous than ever before,” he wrote.
The U.S. president said he had formally notified Congress of the decision. Under U.S. law, lawmakers will now conduct a 45-day review period before the removal can take effect.
Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism has long restricted access to U.S. foreign assistance, defence exports and certain financial transactions. Removing the designation would represent one of the most significant shifts in U.S.-Syria relations in decades.
Syrian Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan welcomed the move, saying it would support economic recovery and help reintegrate Syria into the global economy.
In a Telegram post, Raslan said the decision would open the door to broader investment opportunities and financial cooperation.
The announcement follows a series of steps by the Trump administration aimed at easing Syria's isolation. Last year, Trump signed an executive order terminating a major U.S. sanctions programme on Syria, enabling the country to reconnect with parts of the international financial system.
Several Gulf countries have since moved to support Syria's recovery efforts. Saudi companies are reportedly preparing investments worth billions of dollars, while other regional states have pledged financial assistance.
Trump also used the occasion to praise Sharaa, despite the Syrian leader's past links to Islamist militant groups.
Sharaa previously served as a commander in Syria's al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front before severing ties with the organisation in 2016. He later led a coalition of Islamist rebel factions that overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
The U.S. president has backed Sharaa's actions against Islamic State militants and spoken positively about his leadership.
“He's respected by everybody, including me,” Trump said.
If Congress does not block the move during its review period, Syria's removal from the terrorism list would mark a major diplomatic breakthrough for Damascus. It could accelerate efforts to attract foreign investment and rebuild an economy devastated by years of war.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the ...
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen...
Iran says it will deliver its response to recent U.S. proposals through intermediaries, underscoring that commu...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
The German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026 commenced on 6 October in Baku under the title “Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Green Energy, and Digitalisation along the Middle Corridor.”
Iran says it will deliver its response to recent U.S. proposals through intermediaries, underscoring that communication between the two countries continues indirectly alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
International cooperation, lunar exploration and the growing role of artificial intelligence dominated the third day of a major astronautical conference now underway in Antalya.
Armenian authorities have frozen a wide range of assets belonging to billionaire businessman and opposition politician Gagik Tsarukyan as part of proceedings linked to the confiscation of property allegedly acquired illegally.
Azerbaijan has sent another batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, consisting of electrical equipment vital for restoring the country’s energy infrastructure and preparing for the winter season.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment