The administration of US President Donald Trump has designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East as terrorist organisations and imposed sanctions on them and their members. The measures were announced on Tuesday by the US Treasury and State Departments and apply to branches operating in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.

According to the State Department, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Lebanese branch was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the most severe classification under US law. This designation makes it a criminal offense to provide material support to the group and allows for expanded legal and financial penalties.

The Treasury Department added the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Jordan and Egypt to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organizations. US officials said the two branches were designated for their support of Ham-as, which the United States already classifies as a terrorist organization.