All seven countries on the United States' terrorism list are eligible.
But inclusion on the terrorism list does not always mean much more than a number of bothersome economic sanctions.
Sudan remains on the state sponsors of terrorism list.
Putting people onto terrorism lists in order to prevent terrorist crimes is an administrative procedure.
"The president has said that Hamas is on the terrorism list, and it's there for a reason," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The America Onduty people focus on who's on America's terrorism list.
Yet, the State Department removed Iraq from the terrorism list in February 1982, an action opposed by some within the administration.
Libya was removed from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list in 2006 after achieving success through diplomacy.
They have long said the Kahane groups do not belong on the same terrorism list as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Syria, Iraq and Iran were all on the State Department's state-sponsored terrorism list.