WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Josh Gottheimer is backing new bipartisan legislation aimed at designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization if the group is found to be cooperating with Iran or Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey's 5th Congressional District, introduced the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act alongside Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas). The House bill mirrors legislation introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

If enacted, the legislation would require the U.S. Secretary of State to investigate whether the Algeria-based Sahrawi paramilitary group is engaged in military or terrorist cooperation with Iran or its proxies. Should that cooperation be confirmed, the bill would require the group to be designated both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization.

"The Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies are working overtime to open a new front against the United States and our allies, and the Polisario Front has become one of their instruments," Gottheimer said.

"When a group takes drones and weapons from the IRGC and coordinates with Iranian-backed terrorists, we should call it exactly what it is: a terrorist organization."

According to the legislation, the State Department would be required to examine alleged cooperation involving military operations, weapons transfers, drones, air defense systems and military intelligence support between the Polisario Front and Iran or Iranian-backed terrorist organizations.

If the designation is triggered, the group would face U.S. counterterrorism sanctions, including restrictions on access to the global financial system and international travel.

The bill has bipartisan backing, with Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) joining as original co-sponsors.

The legislation is also endorsed by FDD Action, whose Senior Director of Government Relations, Tyler Stapleton, said the measure would require the State Department to investigate allegations that the Polisario Front has received training and weapons from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.