Trump Administration Prepares Sweeping ICC Sanctions That Could Cut Court Off From Dollar System, Report Says

The Trump administration is preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court that could restrict its access to US dollar transactions, according to US officials and documents.

Washington had already sanctioned several ICC officials over the court's cases involving Israeli leaders. The proposed measures would go further by targeting transactions with the institution itself after a six to seven-month grace period, potentially cutting it off from much of the global financial system.

ICC Sanctions Could Target Most Court Transactions

The planned restrictions would prohibit most transactions with the ICC, according to the documents and officials cited by the Journal. Communications-related services would be exempt, but the broader measures are expected to be substantially more punitive than sanctions aimed at named individuals.

A final decision has not been announced. Some US officials said the measures could be finalised as soon as this week, during the United Nations General Assembly, or shortly afterwards.

A State Department spokesman declined to preview any sanctions decision, but pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's position that the ICC threatens American sovereignty. The Treasury Department declined to comment, while the ICC did not respond to a request for comment.

Washington has already sanctioned former chief prosecutor Karim Khan, ICC president Tomoko Akane, several judges, the court's two deputy prosecutors and Abdoulaye Seye, a senior trial lawyer involved in the ICC's Palestine investigation.

ICC member states removed Khan from office on 24 July after the Assembly of States Parties found that he had committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty following disciplinary proceedings stemming from sexual misconduct allegations. Khan denied wrongdoing.

ICC Sanctions Follow Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Dispute

The wider campaign follows the ICC's 2024 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.

The court accused both men of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their conduct during the war in Gaza, including allegations that humanitarian aid was blocked to pressure Hamas. Netanyahu and Gallant have denied the allegations.

Former prosecutor Khan had also sought warrants for Hamas leaders over the 7 October 2023 attack. Those leaders have since been killed in battle or assassinated, according to the report.

The ICC has also reportedly been investigating Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over issues linked to settlement expansion in the West Bank. The United Nations says the settlements violate international law.

Rubio Signals Broader ICC Sanctions Campaign

Rubio said in July that the administration was preparing a wider campaign against the court and would dismantle it 'brick by brick' if necessary. He argued that the ICC's pursuit of officials from countries that are not members created a dangerous precedent for the United States. Neither the US nor Israel belongs to the ICC.

The report also noted that Rubio, while serving as a senator in 2022, co-sponsored a resolution encouraging ICC member states to seek investigations into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Russia is also not an ICC member, and the court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in 2023.

European governments and Japan have pledged to protect the ICC from US pressure. The European Union has considered activating its Blocking Statute to shield European businesses from the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions, although it remains unclear what measures ICC supporters would ultimately take.