WASHINGTON – In a decisive step reflecting ongoing counterterrorism priorities, the U.S. government has declared three primary Middle Eastern chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups, applying sanctions to the organizations and their members. The announcement from the Treasury and State Departments came on Tuesday, identifying the Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian branches as threats to U.S. national security and interests abroad.
The State Department designated the Lebanese branch as a foreign terrorist organization, the highest level of such a classification, which criminalizes the provision of material support to the group. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department labeled the Jordanian and Egyptian factions as specially designated global terrorists, linking them primarily to their assistance in supporting Hamas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that these steps constitute the initial phase in a prolonged initiative aimed at combating violent and destabilizing efforts associated with Muslim Brotherhood entities worldwide. He emphasized the United States' commitment to utilizing all necessary instruments to cut off resources that enable these groups to engage in or back terrorism.
The current measures follow directives from an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, who authorized Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last year to identify optimal strategies for sanction implementation. U.S. officials have characterized these groups as actively involved in or supporting violent campaigns detrimental to America and regional stability.
Though leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have publicly disavowed violence, specific actions have contradicted such claims. The Treasury's executive order highlighted that a Lebanese faction launched rocket attacks on Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 assault, a conflict that escalated tensions in Gaza. Additionally, the Jordanian chapter reportedly provided logistical support to Hamas, intensifying its scrutiny under the sanctions.
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood has faced bans in multiple countries, including a national prohibition in Egypt since 2013 and the imposition of a broad ban in Jordan earlier this year. Nathan Brown, a professor specializing in political science and international affairs at George Washington University, suggested that this designation aligns with the interests of some U.S. allies such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. However, it could complicate diplomatic relations with countries like Qatar and Turkey where the Brotherhood retains more tolerance.
Brown also pointed out that the designation could affect immigration and asylum processes in the U.S. and Western countries. This classification might strengthen the basis for suspicion towards individuals affiliated with the Brotherhood and potentially reduce challenges to official actions taken against them in courts.
The designation was a subject of consideration within the Trump administration as early as 2019, with several conservative figures advocating for stringent measures against the Muslim Brotherhood. Notably, the Republican-led states of Florida and Texas have independently labeled the group as a terrorist organization more recently, reflecting a broader trend of heightened scrutiny at multiple government levels.