Syria removed: Which countries are still on the US ‘terror’ list – and why?

What the report says

The United States has removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979, according to Al Jazeera. The change took effect after a 45-day congressional review following President Donald Trump’s July announcement. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed the move as a step toward rebuilding and reconstruction after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

Al Jazeera reports that the designation had limited foreign assistance, defence exports, some financial transactions and transfers of dual-use goods, while also discouraging banks and companies from doing business with Syria. US officials said the removal followed assurances from Damascus that it would not back international terrorism in the future, and Washington has also pointed to cooperation against ISIL as part of the shift. Analysts quoted by the outlet said the move could ease access to international banking, trade and investment.

With Syria off the list, the only countries still on the US terrorism blacklist are Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Al Jazeera reviewed the history of each designation: Iran has been listed since 1984, Cuba since 1982 with a brief removal during the Obama administration, and North Korea since 1988 with an interruption in 2008. The article also places the decision in a wider sanctions context, noting that the US maintains other restrictions on countries such as Russia and Venezuela through separate programmes.