Witnesses defend consistent use of Foreign Terrorist Organization designations; back Houthis and IRGC listings in former cases
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Summary
Testimony urged rigorous, evidence-based use of FTO designations and greater international alignment on sanctions. Ambassador Sales defended prior Houthi and IRGC designations, and witnesses discussed the five-year review process and political reversals.
Witnesses told the subcommittee that the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation and related sanctions are important tools that should be used based on evidence and applied consistently across administrations.
Why it matters: FTO listings and related sanctions are central elements of U.S. counterterrorism strategy, affecting diplomatic flexibility, sanctions policy and partner coordination.
Ambassador Nathan A. Sales described how the CT Bureau approaches FTO designations. He said the bureau compiles evidentiary records from open-source and classified information and applies a legal standard that an organization "engage in terrorist activity." Sales said the State Department previously designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Houthis based on such evidence and that he supports redesignation of groups when the evidence supports it. "Absolutely. If they haven't earned it, I'm not sure who has," Sales said when asked if he supported redesignating the Houthis.
Sales also criticized routine, resource-consuming five-year reviews of existing designations, arguing that reviews divert resources from identifying and sanctioning new threats. He recommended streamlining the review process and focusing resources on new sanctions and enforcement actions.
Dr. Byman cautioned that terrorism designations must be used responsibly to preserve credibility. He said misuse of the terrorism label for political purposes can create complications for U.S. businesses and charities and reduce the designation's effectiveness.
The hearing included discussion of how designations intersect with sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasury and OFAC; witnesses described a division of labor where State focuses on designation of terrorist actors and Treasury targets facilitators, financiers and enablers.
No formal re-designations or administrative actions were taken during the hearing; members asked witnesses to provide further written detail for the record.