US Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist

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Washington : The United States has officially designated three national branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organisations, a major shift in U.S. counterterrorism policy toward one of the Middle East’s oldest Islamist movements.

Under announcements by the U.S. State Department and Treasury Department, the Egyptian and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood organisations were designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), while the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, also known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, was listed both as an SDGT and as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) under U.S. law.

The designations, part of a broader effort launched under an executive order signed in November 2025, make it illegal for U.S. persons to provide material support to the groups, freeze any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction and generally bar their members from entering the United States.

In announcing the actions, U.S. officials accused the Brotherhood chapters of providing support to militant groups, including Hamas, and contributing to violence and instability in the region allegations the groups strongly deny.

Leaders of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood rejected the terrorist labelling, calling the move politically motivated and defending the group’s historical political and social roles in Egypt. The Lebanese branch likewise described the U.S. designation as an administrative decision with no legal effect in Lebanon, where it operates as a registered political and social organisation.

The designation drew positive reactions from some U.S. regional partners. The United Arab Emirates publicly welcomed the listings, describing them as key to combating extremist activities and enhancing regional security.

However, experts note the move could complicate U.S. diplomatic relations with countries where the Muslim Brotherhood has historic roots or enjoys varying degrees of tolerance, including Qatar and Türkiye.

Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood began as a socio-religious movement and later evolved into a transnational network with political, social and ideological influence across the Middle East and beyond. Its affiliates have operated as political parties, civic groups and in some cases armed elements, particularly in conflict zones.

The U.S. designation marks one of the most significant Western actions taken against the Brotherhood’s branches to date and reflects deepening concerns within the Trump administration about Islamist groups’ roles in regional violence and terrorism.

Officials say the sanctions are intended to cut off financial support, curtail networks linked to extremist activity and protect U.S. national security interests. Legal and diplomatic consequences of the designations are expected to unfold in the coming days.