Official Rationale and Policy Implications: U.S. Sanctions Against Muslim Brotherhood Chapters

January 2026, the U.S. government took coordinated counter-terrorism action, designating specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist entities. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC added these entities to the sanctions list under Executive Order 13224, while the State Department designated the Lebanese chapter as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). These actions derive from a White House Executive Order 14362 signed on November 24, 2025, which mandated interagency review of Muslim Brotherhood branches for potential designation.

The official OFAC update outlines that the Egyptian and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood branches were designated as SDGTs for providing material support to violent actors, including alleged coordination with Hamas. The Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood was designated both as an FTO and SDGT, and its leader, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, was separately listed as an SDGT. These measures empower U.S. authorities to freeze their assets and block property under U.S. jurisdiction.

The designation is not a judgment on Islam or civilian populations; instead, it is grounded in specific legal criteria defined by U.S. counter-terrorism statutes. Individuals or entities that fall within these designations face prohibitions on providing or receiving financial support, and U.S. persons are generally barred from engaging in related transactions without explicit authorization.

Trusted reporting underscores the U.S. rationale: these measures aim to constrain financial flows and operational networks linked to extremist activities while supporting broader global security objectives. Egypt’s foreign ministry and key regional partners welcomed the designation as strengthening regional security.

Accurate public discussion must focus on verified facts from official government sources and respected news outlets to ensure clarity and prevent misinformation. The designation applies only to the named organisations and does not target religion or uninvolved civilian populations.