After Lifting Sanctions, Al-Sharaa: Syria Today Shakes Off a 'Dark Joke'

President of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa considered on Monday that Syria today "shakes off a dark joke from its shoulders, tears with its own hands a page from its painful past, and launches into the space of development, reconstruction, and building," according to the SANA news agency.

He said in a speech to the Syrians: "Great people of Syria, you have done it again; sanctions have been lifted from you and restrictions have been removed. I ask God to help us serve you." He expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and all friendly and supportive countries that stood by Syria.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued, on Monday, an official update to sanction lists, announcing the removal of Syria's name from the list of states sponsoring terrorism.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially announced the cancellation of Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, following completion of legal procedures related to congressional review without any objections registered, noting that removing the designation eliminates the last major obstacle to private sector investment in Syria.

Rubio emphasized these measures were taken in recognition of the positive efforts made by the Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and its additional commitments to completely disentangle Syria from international terrorism activities.