Syria Sanctions in 2026: What Was Lifted and What It Means for Apps

Have the sanctions on Syria been lifted?

Yes, for almost all trade. The US sanctions program on Syria ended on 1 July 2025, the EU lifted its economic sanctions in May 2025, the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Australia followed, and Syria was removed from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on 24 August 2026. A few narrower rules are still in force, listed below. Most apps that still block Syria do so because of a company policy, not because of the law.

What changed, and when

1. 28 May, 2025The EU lifted all economic sanctions on Syria (Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1098).
2. 1 Jul, 2025Executive Order 14312 ended the US Syria sanctions program.
3. 26 Aug, 2025OFAC removed the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 542).
4. 18 Dec, 2025The Caesar Act was repealed.
5. 24 Aug, 2026Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, in place since 1979, was rescinded.
6. 1 Oct, 2026The State Department removed Syria from the ITAR 126.1 list of countries denied defense-trade licenses (91 FR 62313); requests are now reviewed case by case.

Still in force

• Syria remains in US export-control Country Group E:1 until the Bureau of Industry and Security issues a rule removing it.
• Targeted sanctions on individuals tied to the former regime remain, as do EU and UK designations of specific persons.
• As of the June 2026 plenary, Syria is still on the FATF grey list, which constrains banking and payments more than any US designation now does.

What this means for apps and online services

For most consumer software classified EAR99, US License Exception SPP generally authorizes export to Syria, subject to its conditions. Where an app or website still blocks Syria, the cause is usually a company policy that was set before 2025 and never updated. Our service directory shows which services still block Syria and the evidence for each, and Services Reopened in Syria lists the ones that came back. The FAQ has the legal detail with citations.