The Syrian president said that after his country was removed by the United States from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, Syria has “removed a black stain from its back.”

In a recorded message to the people of Syria, Ahmed al-Shar‘ said: “Today, Syria removes a black stain from its back and with its own hands tears up a page from its painful past so that it can move toward development, reconstruction, and building.”

He added: “Great Syrian people, you did it again. Sanctions were lifted from you and restrictions were removed.”

Asaad al-Shibani, Syria’s foreign minister, also said: “We closed a dark chapter in Syrian history.” Donald Trump, the U.S. president, reshared that message on Truth Social.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department removed Syria from the list of countries supporting terrorism.