Washington prepares sanctions that could block payments to the ICC

The Wall Street Journal, citing documents and American officials, reports that the measures would prohibit most transactions with the ICC after a transition period of six to seven months. American individuals and businesses would then require a special license to engage in financial dealings with the court.

The impact could be direct on the court’s operations. The restrictions are likely to complicate the payment of salaries, IT contracts, insurance, and funding for investigations. Reuters also highlights the risk that foreign banks or suppliers may limit their relationships with the ICC to preserve their access to the U.S. financial system.

The State Department has not yet formalized this new package of measures. According to Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, an announcement could occur during or shortly after the United Nations General Assembly week in New York. However, the exact timing remains uncertain.

Washington already has a legal framework to sanction ICC officials. In a decree signed in February 2025, Donald Trump authorized the freezing of assets and restrictions on the provision of funds, goods, or services to designated individuals, accusing the ICC of actions against the United States and Israel.

On August 18, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye. This series of individual measures had already sparked reactions among state parties, including Senegal following the U.S. sanctions targeting ICC judges.

The new proposal would mark a significant escalation by targeting the institution itself. The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, contests the arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the prior investigation into U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Established in 2002 by the Rome Statute, the ICC prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes when national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to act. The potential announcement of new sanctions is anticipated around the UN General Assembly, according to sources cited by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal.