U.S. FEDRegulation
State removes Syria from ITAR policy-of-denial list
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued a final rule Oct. 1, 2026, removing Syria from the ITAR section 126.1 list of countries subject to a U.S. policy of denial for defense-article licenses and approvals. Future license requests for Syria will be reviewed case by case. The change follows the August rescission of Syria's state-sponsor-of-terrorism designation and took effect Oct. 1, 2026 (91 FR 62313).
Text (Federal Register) → · Associated Press, LexBlog
Key points
- Amends 22 CFR part 126; implements the Secretary of State's Aug. 19 approval of a new Syria defense-trade policy.Federal Register
- Prerequisites included waiving or removing Syria Accountability Act, chemical/biological-weapons and child-soldiers restrictions.Federal Register
- AP reports seven countries remain on the denial list: Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela.Associated Press
- The AP reported that arms sales requests from Syria will now be considered case by case.Associated Press
- Published in the Federal Register Oct. 1, 2026 (doc. 2026-20082), effective the same day.Federal Register