U.S. adds International Criminal Court to sanctions list

The U.S. Treasury Department added the International Criminal Court as an entity to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List on Oct. 9. The Treasury notice identifies the court in The Hague and links the designation to Executive Order 14203, the 2025 order that established a sanctions framework tied to the ICC's cases involving U.S. nationals and nationals of some U.S. allies.[1][2][3]

Previous U.S. actions targeted individual ICC officials. The court said the new step is an unprecedented move against the institution itself. Reuters reported that it could expose companies providing services to the court to U.S. sanctions rules, extending pressure beyond the officials named in earlier actions.[9][3][10]

Under the order, property and interests in property of designated persons within the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked, and U.S. persons generally cannot transact with them unless authorized. The order also allows the Treasury and State departments to issue licenses. The published licenses therefore matter to how the new designation works in practice.[2][1][4]

OFAC General License 13 authorizes transactions ordinarily needed to maintain or wind down ICC operations, contracts and agreements through 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on April 7, 2027. The license lists examples including payments from member states, employee salaries and health insurance, rent, utilities and routine commercial subscriptions. It also allows the court to use blocked accounts for those authorized transactions.[4][1]

Three additional licenses cover telecommunications and enterprise software, pension processing, and services needed for the continued detention and welfare of specified people held by the court. These permissions are limited by the text of each license and do not authorize transactions involving other blocked people unless separately allowed.[5][6][7]

The licenses create a transition period, rather than a simple immediate cutoff of all U.S.-linked activity. Reuters reported that OFAC's action includes a six-month initial grace period. The longer-term effect will depend on which services the court needs, how providers interpret the restrictions and whether additional licenses or policy changes follow.[3][4][5]

Rubio said the United States opposes the ICC's efforts to prosecute Americans and argued that U.S. nationals are not subject to the court's jurisdiction. The United States has not joined the Rome Statute, which created the court. Executive Order 14203 directs sanctions against people the administration determines have engaged in, supported or provided services for certain ICC efforts involving protected U.S. or allied nationals.[8][2]

The ICC says it is an independent judicial institution established by treaty and entrusted by 125 member states with investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. It said the U.S. designation seeks to disrupt its operations and intimidate people who work with it, and called on member states to help ensure continuity of its work.[9][3]

Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom said they regretted and strongly disagreed with the U.S. sanctions. Their joint statement warned that, if fully put into effect, the measures could significantly affect the court, its staff and their families, while reaffirming support for its independence and work.[11][10]

The designation was announced on the same day the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded its 2026 Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, a former ICC Appeals Chamber judge. The timing drew international attention, but it does not establish that the prize prompted the sanctions. Rubio's statement said Washington had deferred the designation for more than a year while seeking changes from the court and its member states, and AP reported that the move long predated the award announcement.[12][8][10][3]