The United States on Tuesday, January 13, formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations, citing their alleged involvement in violence and regional destabilization.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designations are part of “a sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs.” He added that the U.S. will use all available tools to prevent these groups from accessing resources to engage in or support terrorism.
The move freezes any assets belonging to the organizations in the United States and criminalizes transactions with them, while severely restricting members’ ability to travel to the country.
The decision, initially set in motion by President Donald Trump in November 2025, was welcomed by the Egyptian government. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called the designation a reflection of “the danger of this group, its extremist ideology, and the direct threat it poses to regional and international security and stability.”
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood once spread widely across the Arab world. It rose to political power in Egypt through the 2012 election of Mohamed Morsi following Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow. Morsi was deposed in a 2013 military coup led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has since pursued a sweeping crackdown against the movement.
The U.S. cited the Brotherhood’s alleged coordination with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, as a key justification for the designation. The Egyptian and Jordanian branches reportedly maintain ties with Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel triggered an Israeli military response in Gaza.
In Lebanon, the Brotherhood has allegedly allied with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group, in launching attacks on Israel. The U.S. State Department said the Lebanese branch has pushed for closer alignment with the Hezbollah-Hamas axis.
The Brotherhood also remains influential in Jordan, where its political wing was historically the main opposition party. In April 2025, Jordan banned the organization, citing stockpiling of weapons and plans to destabilize the kingdom.
The U.S. decision has also been influenced by domestic concerns. Conservative lawmakers have long argued that the Brotherhood poses a threat internationally and domestically, claiming—without evidence—that the movement seeks to infiltrate governments worldwide.
Previously, the U.S. had delayed designations in part to avoid straining relations with Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has historically supported the Muslim Brotherhood ideologically.
The move signals a major escalation in U.S. policy toward the movement, aligning with regional allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE in efforts to curb the influence of the Brotherhood across the Middle East.