The Syrian Arab Republic welcomed the announcement by the United States of America, following Wednesday’s discussions between President Ahmad al-Sharaa of the Syrian Arab Republic and U.S. President Donald, of the initiation of the process of rescinding Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a designation it has held since 1979, as well as President Trump’s notification to Congress of his intention to take this step.

Together, these developments mark a significant step forward in Syrian-American relations, founded on dialogue, mutual respect, and shared interests, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed that the removal of this designation, alongside the lifting of sanctions, will support economic recovery, create the conditions necessary for reconstruction efforts, and promote trade and investment, in a manner that serves the interests of the Syrian people and contributes to regional security and stability.

The Syrian Arab Republic looks forward to continuing constructive engagement with the United States of America in a manner that strengthens bilateral relations and advances peace, development, and prosperity, the Ministry added.

Earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally notified Congress of President Trump’s intent to rescind the designation, which will be effective after a 45-day congressional review period, Rubio said in a statement.

“This is yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness,” Rubio said. “Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open up a new chapter for the Syrian people”.

Washington designated Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979 under the policies of the ousted Assad regime. In November 2025, President al-Sharaa made the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, and the US Congress approved the repeal of sanctions under the Caesar Act in December 2025. Syria subsequently joined the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS as its 90th member.

Trump’s announcement represents another step in the normalization of US-Syria relations following the fall of the deposed regime in December 2024. In May 2025, Trump announced he would lift sanctions on Syria to create a new relationship between the two countries.

In another development, President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 146 for the year 2026 on Sunday, establishing “The Syrian University for Security Sciences,” a specialized scientific public institution of an administrative nature.

According to the decree, the newly established university will possess a corporate body alongside full financial and administrative independence. The main headquarters will be located in Damascus, with the authorization to establish affiliated colleges, institutes, and centers across Damascus and other Syrian provinces.

The decree outlines that the university will comprise several specialized educational, research, and training institutions, specifically the Higher Institute for Security Sciences, the Faculty of Security Sciences, the Faculty of Cyber Security, the Center for Security Studies and Research, the Technical Institute for Security Sciences, and the Technical Institute for Cyber Security.