Trump administration preparing sanctions against the International Criminal Court

The Trump administration is preparing comprehensive sanctions against the International Criminal Court, its judges, and its officials, US officials said.

• US officials said the administration is preparing comprehensive sanctions targeting the ICC, its judges, and its officials.
• The sanctions would ban most transactions with the court after a six-to-seven-month grace period.
• Planned measures include travel restrictions, visa revocations, asset freezes, and bans on trade and banking dealings.
• The administration intends to block the court's dollar transactions, isolating it from much of the global financial system.
• The administration seeks to pressure the court to drop arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and a prior investigation into US forces in Afghanistan.
• Reuters cited two sources saying the sanctions are ready, while the Wall Street Journal reported the decision could be finalized during UN meetings this week.
• The court warned that sanctions on the whole organization could disrupt operations including IT purchases, insurance, hiring investigators, and paying US staff.