Washington escalates pressure on Tehran’s regional proxies amid continued threats against U.S. and coalition forces.
The United States announced on September 17, 2025, the designation of four Iran-aligned militia groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), intensifying efforts to disrupt Tehran’s regional networks and their capacity to launch attacks against American and allied forces.
The Department of State formally listed Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN), Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA), and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA) as FTOs. The move underscores Washington’s position that the Iranian regime remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN)
Founded in 2013, HAN has pledged loyalty to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and is a central component of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a coalition of Tehran-backed militias. The group has openly threatened U.S. military installations in the region and maintained close ties to the late IRGC-Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani and former Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah. HAN and its leader Akram al-Kabi were first sanctioned as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) in 2019.
Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS)
Designated alongside its leader Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji in 2023, KSS has targeted U.S. and Coalition forces in both Iraq and Syria. The group has received Iranian funding, training, and advanced weaponry, further embedding it within Tehran’s “Axis of Resistance.”
Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA)
HAAA and its leader Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi were sanctioned in 2024. The group played a direct role in the January 2024 drone attack on Tower 22 in Jordan, which killed three American service members. HAAA has publicly declared its intent to continue attacking U.S. interests.
Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA)
KIA, formally designated as an SDGT earlier in 2025, has coordinated attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic facilities. Its Secretary General Shibl al-Zaydi, sanctioned in 2018, acted as a financial link between the IRGC-Qods Force and Iraqi militias, facilitating investments for Soleimani. KIA fighters have received training in both Iran and Lebanon under Hizballah’s supervision.
Previous Designations of Iran’s Proxies
The new designations build upon earlier U.S. measures against Iran’s proxy militias:
- Kata’ib Hizballah (KH): Blacklisted in 2009, KH has been behind numerous attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces. The group maintains close ideological and financial ties to Tehran and has targeted Israeli and Iraqi entities.
- Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH): Designated in 2020, AAH and its leader Qays al-Khazali are heavily funded and trained by Iran. The group has claimed responsibility for thousands of attacks, including the killing of five American soldiers in Karbala.
Implications of the Designations
According to the State Department, the new FTO listings will:
- Freeze any assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to these groups or their leaders.
- Prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with them.
- Expose foreign entities engaging with them to the risk of secondary sanctions.
“These actions demonstrate our commitment to countering Iran’s malign influence and dismantling its terrorist proxies across the region,” the Department of State said.
