President Trump’s administration has officially labelled Muslim Brotherhood organisations in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist groups, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s campaign against entities it views as threats connected to Israel’s rivals.
“These designations are the first steps in a sustained effort to prevent violence and destabilisation by Muslim Brotherhood chapters wherever they operate,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
He added that the US would use all available means to deny these groups the resources needed to engage in or support terrorism.
Under the new measures, it is illegal to provide material support to the organisations. Current and former members are largely barred from entering the US, and economic sanctions aim to cut off their funding sources.
Founded in 1928 by Egyptian scholar Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has spread across the Middle East, forming political parties and social organisations.
The group claims it is committed to peaceful political participation.
In Lebanon, its branch, al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, has representation in parliament. In Jordan, the political wing, Islamic Action Front (IAF), won 31 seats in the 2024 elections despite being banned last year over alleged involvement in a sabotage plot.
Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood won the country’s only democratically held presidential election in 2012, with Mohamed Morsi elected president.
He was overthrown a year later and died in prison in 2019. Since then, Cairo has outlawed the group and carried out a major crackdown on its members, forcing the organisation underground or into exile.