US labels three muslim brotherhood branches as terrorist groups
“These designations reflect a sustained effort to stop Muslim Brotherhood chapters from violence and destabilization,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
The Trump administration has labelled three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, imposing sanctions on the groups and their members.
The US Treasury and State departments announced yesterday (14 January) that the Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian chapters pose a threat to American security and interests. The Lebanese branch was designated a foreign terrorist organization, while the Jordanian and Egyptian branches were listed as specially designated global terrorists for supporting Hamas.
"These designations reflect a sustained effort to stop Muslim Brotherhood chapters from violence and destabilization," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the administration will work to cut the group off from the financial system.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt and Lebanon rejected the US decision. Egypt's branch said it "categorically rejects this designation" and will challenge it legally. The Lebanese branch said it operates openly within the law and called the US decision "without legal effect" in Lebanon.
Trump's executive order cited the Lebanese chapter's role in launching rockets on Israel after Hamas' 7 October, 2023 attack and Jordan's support to Hamas. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 and banned there in 2013. Jordan banned the group in April 2025.
Egypt welcomed the designation, calling it a "significant step" against extremism. Experts said the move may please some US allies like the UAE but could strain relations with countries where the Brotherhood is tolerated, including Qatar and Turkey. It may also affect visa and asylum decisions in the US, Europe, and Canada.
