International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Syria Country Policy Revision

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of State 22 CFR Part 126 [Public Notice: 13131] RIN 1400-AG38 AGENCY: Department of State. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of State is amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial for licenses and other approvals. DATES: This rule is effective on October 1, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ryan Haddad, Foreign Affairs Officer, Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy, U.S. Department of State, telephone: (771) 204-7878; email DDTCCustomerService@state.gov . ATTN: Regulatory Change, ITAR Section 126.1 Syria. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 19, 2026, the Secretary of State approved a new defense trade policy for Syria that would permit the review of defense article and defense service transfers to Syria on a case-by-case licensing basis. The Secretary directed the Department to codify this change by publishing an amendment to the ITAR removing Syria from the list of countries for which it is the policy of the United States to deny licenses and other approvals for exports and imports of defense articles and defense services destined for or originating in those countries. This rule implements this decision by removing the reference to Syria in ITAR § 126.1, “Prohibited exports, imports and sales to or from certain countries.” With the statutory prerequisites for amending Syria's status under § 126.1 now satisfied—…