US imposes sanctions on ICC hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize

UN secretary general warns US move could deal 'a serious blow' to efforts to ensure accountability for grave crimes

US President Donald Trump's ​administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on ‌a diplomatic collision course with European allies.

The ICC's deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, condemned the sanctions and said they would not halt the tribunal's work.

The Trump administration has long been hostile to the court founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges. Friday's move would go far further by potentially punishing companies that provide services to the ​court itself.

Read: Trump administration prepares sanctions against International Criminal Court, sources say

"President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, first published by Reuters.

"That is ​why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court. We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off its resources and crippling its ability to operate."

Today, the Trump Administration is sanctioning the ICC.

This action should encourage our Allies within the Court to work for solutions to end this threat to U.S. sovereignty forever. pic.twitter.com/D86dCqLUaZ

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 9, 2026

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Khan told Reuters the sanctions "must be condemned".

"The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work ​that an independent judicial institution is doing," Khan said. "Our work will continue across all our situations, our investigations and our prosecutions."

US sanctions on the ICC “must be condemned” as they intend to undermine rule of law internationally and will not stop the court’s investigations and prosecutions across all situations, says ICC deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan pic.twitter.com/fDaXrcDL88

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 9, 2026

Washington has denounced the ICC over arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials, including ​Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a past investigation into actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan, which the ICC has since closed.

The court counts 125 countries as member states, including all EU countries and all members of the NATO alliance apart from the United States and Turkiye. It has received strong public backing in the past from member countries including major US allies, and is based in the Netherlands, an EU and ​NATO member.

Navi Pillay, the South African jurist who won the Nobel Peace Prize earlier on Friday, had served as a judge on the ICC's Appeals Chamber from 2003-2008. The prize committee ​said in its citation that in naming her it had sought to "issue a reminder" at a time when "judges and institutions of international law are under political attack".

Read More: Navi Pillay: Nobel laureate who led UN inquiry that found genocide in Gaza

"An international legal system in which war criminals are ‌held to account ⁠, and the victims of abuse see justice served is a precondition for a peaceful world," the prize committee said.

Rubio said the sanctions had been structured to give the court and its member states an opportunity to address US concerns.

Washington immediately allowed some exemptions. Shortly after the sanctions were announced, the US Treasury issued four general licenses, which would allow some transactions for ICC telecommunications, software and pension payments, and transactions linked to ICC detainees.

US expects allies to 'rein in the court'

US sanctions typically bar all US-based companies from any work with a sanctioned organisation, ​forcing banks to shut accounts, insurers to end ​coverage and software companies to halt ⁠cooperation.

The Trump administration previously imposed targeted sanctions on court officials during his first term, which were rescinded under President Joe Biden. Washington announced new sanctions just days after Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Court officials have been preparing for months for the prospect of sanctions ​on the court itself, shifting office computers from Microsoft software to open-source equivalents and making new arrangements for banking and health insurance.

The court's registrar, ​Osvaldo Zavala Giler, called ⁠earlier this week for the EU to be prepared to use a so-called "blocking mechanism" that lets it shield European countries from the extraterritorial effects of sanctions.

In his statement, Rubio said the United States had delayed its sanctions hoping that the ICC and the countries party to its founding Rome Statute would address US concerns, but they had failed to do so.

The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), potentially cutting off its banking, insurance and software services.

The move comes amid U.S. anger over ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, and a previous… pic.twitter.com/CJfJMbxbwL

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 9, 2026

"Either the ICC will ⁠end its ​threats, or we will end the ICC. We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ​ICC and that rely on American service members for their defence, to rein in the court," Rubio said.

"We have structured this action to provide an opportunity for States Parties to negotiate and present a solution to address our ​concerns. If these efforts do not bear fruit, we will continue to adjust accordingly," Rubio said.

UN chief condemns sanctions against ICC, warns of 'serious blow' to justice

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned US sanctions against the ICC on Friday, warning that the measures could undermine its work and deal "a serious blow" to international efforts to ensure accountability for grave crimes.

"Today's decision marks a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar. Accountability for international crimes and delivery of justice to victims are central to our global commitment to peace, security, human rights and fundamental freedoms," said a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres condemns the announcement of the imposition by the United States of sanctions against the International Criminal Court as an institution.

Full statement: https://t.co/4tZzdbfcsz pic.twitter.com/hGVDlEII3y

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 9, 2026

Guterres was "deeply alarmed" by the expected impact of the sanctions on the court as a whole, particularly its ability to carry out its mandate, the statement said.

The UN chief also reiterated his support for the court's independence and called on countries to uphold their obligations under international law.

US sanctions draw opposition as countries warn of impact on its work

Meanwhile, six European countries, Canada and Japan, expressed regret over the US announcement of sanctions against the ICC, warning that the measures could significantly affect its operations, staff and their families.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, along with their Canadian and Japanese counterparts, said they "strongly disagree" with Washington's announcement.

"We, the undersigned States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC," the statement said.

Foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands and UK issue joint statement on ICC:

- We reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for independence, impartiality, and integrity of ICC
- We regret and strongly disagree with announcement of… pic.twitter.com/WL1O4gEkjp

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 9, 2026

The ministers welcomed the court's preparations to respond to potential sanctions, saying the measures would help it continue carrying out its mandate under the Rome Statute.

"Nevertheless, if put into effect, these sanctions will have a significant impact on the Court's work, its dedicated staff and their families," they warned.

The eight countries also pledged to pursue "constructive and inclusive dialogue" with countries that were not parties to the Rome Statute ahead of the Assembly of States Parties scheduled for December.

"We will continue to work together to support the Court's vital work, uphold the rules-based international system, and advance accountability," the statement said.