Jordan is grappling with heightened political and security tensions following the discovery of a sabotage cell allegedly linked to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. According to a detailed report by Sky News Arabia, this revelation has prompted Jordanian authorities to activate a ban on the organization first issued in 2020. While the Jordanian government has not officially named Iran, multiple analysts and security sources have pointed to suspected Iranian involvement.
Jordan’s Minister of Interior, Mazen Al-Faraya, stated that the uncovered cell was engaged in the manufacture of explosives, drones, and missiles, marking a dangerous shift in the Brotherhood’s domestic activities. In response, the government has seized the organization’s assets and is investigating the Islamic Action Front, the Brotherhood’s political wing, for further links.
Dr. Nabil Al-Otoum, a regional affairs expert, claimed the Brotherhood is now operating as a proxy for Iran, mimicking the tactics of the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He further alleged that training in explosives and missile technology took place in Lebanon, conducted by Iranian and Hamas-linked operatives. These developments, he warned, reflect Iran’s broader regional strategy of shifting power balances through local agents.
#Iran News: #Jordan Intensifies Border Operations Against Iranian-Linked Drug Smuggling Networkshttps://t.co/mkxomy2Hpb
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 12, 2025
Political analyst Adel Mahmoud described the timing of the crackdown as “calculated,” and suggested Jordan is now at the epicenter of a broader geopolitical conflict. He noted that some members of the Islamic Action Front may have participated in the sabotage plans, possibly paving the way for the party’s dissolution.
Although Iranian involvement has not been officially confirmed by Jordan, participants in Sky News Arabia’s televised panels stressed the “clear fingerprints” of the Iranian regime in the case, particularly in terms of weapons training and technology transfer. They warned of broader consequences affecting Jordan’s ties with Lebanon, Syria, and Palestinian camps.
Why Does #Iranian State Media Threaten #Jordan with Invasionhttps://t.co/pHzYYZaJwJ
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Al-Otoum emphasized that “Iran is exploiting regional chaos to expand its influence through local proxies such as the Muslim Brotherhood,” calling for heightened security coordination with Syria, given the potential threats along the Jordanian-Syrian border.
Observers believe the Brotherhood ban is not merely a domestic political measure, but a defensive move against transnational threats. It highlights Jordan’s growing concerns over being caught in the crossfire of the Iran-led axis and the opposing Arab and international coalitions.