Amsterdam, October 9, 2026, 5:38 PM — Regnum News Agency. On October 9, the International Criminal Court (ICC) strongly condemned the imposition of US sanctions against the court, calling them an unprecedented step.
"This is an attempt to obstruct the administration of justice and prevent the court from fulfilling the purposes for which it was created," the court's press service said in a statement.
The ICC called Washington's actions an assault on the rule of law and the foundations of the international legal order, as well as an attack on the simple principle that no one is above the law. The court noted that this unprecedented US move followed a series of sanctions against 13 independent judges and prosecutors "who serve the cause of justice."
The US administration imposed sanctions against the ICC earlier that day. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the court illegitimate and stated that Washington would undermine its ability to function. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control confirmed the ICC's inclusion on the sanctions list. The restrictions now apply to the organization itself, not just its individual representatives.
The United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. In January 2025, the House of Representatives passed a bill imposing sanctions on the court's officials. Restrictions could be imposed on ICC officials who persecute US citizens and their allies. Rubio accused the ICC of waging war against the United States and promised to dismantle the court "brick by brick" with the support of its allies.