U.S. imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court

The U.S. Treasury Department has added the International Criminal Court to its sanctions list, extending restrictions previously imposed on individual court officials to the institution itself. The ICC confirmed that the United States sanctioned the institution on October 9.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would restrict transactions with the court and limit its access to resources. He reiterated that the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and opposes attempts by the ICC to assert jurisdiction over U.S. nationals.

The ICC was added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, subjecting relevant assets under U.S. jurisdiction to blocking measures and restricting transactions involving U.S. persons.

At the same time, several authorizations were issued for certain activities, including temporary support for the court's operations, information technology services, pension-related transactions and activities concerning ICC detainees.

The United States had already imposed sanctions on a number of ICC officials. In August 2026, the court said nine of its 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, a former prosecutor and one staff member were under U.S. sanctions.

The ICC rejected the latest measures, saying they undermine the court's independence and the international legal order, and pledged to continue carrying out its mandate. The court was established under the Rome Statute and is supported by 125 States Parties.

According to CCTV+, the latest measures expand the dispute between Washington and the International Criminal Court from individual officials to the institution itself.