Washington, April  (RHC)-- A U.S. government official said the State Department is expected to recommend that Cuba be removed from the government's list of States Sponsors of Terrorism.

"Our expectation" is that Cuba will be removed from the list, a US government official told CNN on Tuesday.

On a conference call with reporters, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the State Department is "nearing its completion" of its review of the state sponsor of terrorism designation process. He did not rule out an announcement this week.

Cuba has repeatedly said that its designation as a terrorism-sponsor, together with US economic sanctions, remains a major obstacle in the ongoing process to reestablish diplomatic relations with the United States.