Middle East Tensions Rise as US Declares Muslim Brotherhood Groups Terrorist

Middle East Tensions Rise as US Declares Muslim Brotherhood Groups Terrorist

The United States under President Donald Trump has officially designated Muslim Brotherhood organisations in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan as terrorist groups, escalating Washington’s crackdown on entities it considers security threats and adversaries linked to Israel’s regional rivals.

Announcing the decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move marked the beginning of a sustained campaign to curb violence and instability allegedly linked to the groups.

“These designations are the first steps in a sustained effort to prevent violence and destabilisation by Muslim Brotherhood chapters wherever they operate,” Rubio said in a statement.

Under the new measures, it is now illegal to provide material support to the designated organisations. The sanctions also impose travel bans on current and former members, while financial restrictions are designed to cut off funding sources and freeze assets tied to the groups.

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Founded in 1928 by Egyptian scholar Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has evolved into a wide-reaching Islamist movement with political parties and social organisations across the Middle East. The group maintains that it is committed to peaceful political participation, a claim long disputed by several governments in the region.

In Lebanon, the Brotherhood-affiliated al-Jamaa al-Islamiya holds representation in parliament. In Jordan, its political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), secured 31 parliamentary seats in the 2024 elections, despite being banned last year over alleged involvement in a sabotage plot.

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood rose to power after the 2011 uprising, winning the country’s only democratically conducted presidential election in 2012, which brought Mohamed Morsi to office. His government was overthrown by the military in 2013, and Morsi later died in custody in 2019. Since then, Egyptian authorities have outlawed the group and carried out an extensive crackdown, forcing many members underground or into exile.

The US decision has been welcomed by Egyptian authorities, who have long pressed Western governments to formally recognise the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation. However, analysts warn the move could deepen diplomatic tensions in the region, particularly in countries where the group retains political influence.

Middle East Tensions Rise as US Declares Muslim Brotherhood Groups Terrorist