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The United States has removed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa from its Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list, the Treasury Department announced on Friday, according to Anadolu.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control confirmed that sanctions had also been lifted from Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, in line with Thursday’s UN Security Council decision to strike both officials from the international blacklist.
In a separate statement, the US State Department said the UN vote signalled a decisive move towards Syria’s political transformation and a break from decades of authoritarian rule.
It noted that al-Sharaa—previously added to the SDGT list under the name Muhammad al-Jawlani—was removed under Executive Order 13224 in recognition of “progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression.”
Washington said the interim government led by al-Sharaa was actively cooperating on counterterrorism, tackling narcotics networks, eliminating remaining chemical weapons stockpiles, and fostering regional security, while pursuing an inclusive, Syrian-led political process.
Al-Sharaa is scheduled to travel to Washington on Monday for talks at the White House with President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order in June to formally lift sanctions on Syria.
President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled for close to 25 years, fled to Russia on December 8, 2024, bringing an end to the Ba’ath Party’s control that began in 1963.
Al-Sharaa, who led the opposition forces that toppled Assad, was installed as transitional president at the end of January, vowing to rebuild Syria and restore nationwide stability.
The new administration has been attempting to revitalise the war-ravaged economy by courting investors and strengthening commercial ties with regional partners.
