Syria Removed from U.S. State Sponsor of Terrorism List; Iran-Related Sanctions Updated

In a move aligned with President Trump's promise to ease sanctions on Syria, the U.S. Department of State announced the removal of Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. This change means Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations. Additionally, the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization has been revoked, and HTS has been removed from the SDN List.

Consequently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's OFAC has revoked Syria General License 25, which authorized certain transactions previously restricted due to HTS's role in the Syrian government. OFAC also updated several FAQs and issued an updated Tri-Seal Advisory concerning sanctions and export controls relief for Syria.

Simultaneously, OFAC has expanded its Iran sanctions program by adding numerous new names to its SDN List, including individuals and entities involved in activities subject to secondary sanctions. These include persons linked to Iran and other jurisdictions, with digital currency addresses and personal identifiers now listed. Notable additions include Saber Shahbazi Balujeh from Mianeh, Iran, and Cengiz Bekgoz from Istanbul, Turkey.

The updates reflect ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to adjust sanctions policies in response to geopolitical developments, with specific focus on Iran-related activities. The changes are effective immediately and are part of broader sanctions and export control measures aimed at addressing national security concerns.

These regulatory adjustments are significant for entities operating in or with Syria and Iran, impacting compliance obligations and international relations. The removal of Syria from the terrorism list marks a notable shift in U.S. policy, while the expanded Iran sanctions list indicates continued scrutiny of activities linked to Iran.