In August 24, 2026 The Department of State rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
In a statement by Secretary Rubio ” I authorized the formal rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following the conclusion of the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period. I have also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). These actions represent another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity…..This eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.”
Below is an overview of the current restrictions.
- OFAC
- Comprehensive sanctions targeting Syria were terminated in 6/2025.
- OFAC removed al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization on 8/24/2026. HTS helped topple the Assad regime.
- OFAC removed Syria from its Sanctions Programs page
- List-based sanctions remain on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon drug traffickers, and other destabilizing regional actors who remain on the Department of the Treasury’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List).
- DDTC (ITAR)
- Syria is a proscribed country under 126.1
- A regulatory amendment to the ITAR that eases exports of USML items to Syria is expected following the Secretary of State’s August 2026 waiver of the Syria Accountability Act.
- A regulatory amendment to the ITAR that eases restrictions on U.S. sales to Syria under the Arms Export Control Act, on licenses for the export to Syria of items on the USML, on U.S. foreign military financing to Syria, and on Syrian-owned or controlled air transportation to or from the United States is expected following the Secretary of State’s August 2026 waiver of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 and a 20-day notification period to Congress.
- BIS (EAR)
- BIS published a final rule on 9/2/2025 that eased restrictions on exports to Syria. The rule:
- Permits the exports and reexports of EAR99 items to Syria under license exception Syria Peace and Prosperity (SPP), provided that the transactions do not otherwise require a license based on the end-use or end-user.
- Requires export licenses for all items specified on the CCL that do not qualify for a license exception specified in 746.9.
- “ BIS will review license applications under a presumption of approval for exports and reexports of items on the CCL to Syria for commercial end uses that support economic and business development in Syria or that support the Syrian people, including through the improvement or maintenance of telecommunications, water supply and sanitation, power generation, aviation, or other civil services that support peace and prosperity in Syria without making a significant contribution to the military potential of Syria or the ability of Syria to support acts of international terrorism.”
- License Exceptions authorized under 746.9 are:
- TMP, RPL, GOV, TSU, BAF, AVS, and CCD.
- BIS published a final rule on 9/2/2025 that eased restrictions on exports to Syria. The rule:
If you have any questions, please contact us at 703-847-5801 or email us at info@fdassociates.net
UPCOMING ITAR WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS
OUR FALL SCHEDULE IS READY
Agendas available on our website
| ITAR FUNdamentals | September 29 – October 2, 2026
9 AM- 1 PM |
| ITAR for the Empowered Official | October 13, 2026
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| ITAR Compliance Programs | November 3 – November 4, 2026
9 AM – 1 PM |