UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo courtesy of Anadolu
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concern over Washington’s latest sanctions against senior International Criminal Court officials, as pressure on the Hague-based tribunal continued to intensify.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the concern extended beyond the newest designations to the broader US campaign targeting ICC personnel.
The United Nations continues to recognize the ICC as an important part of the international justice system and respects the court’s independent work, Dujarric said.
The US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February 2025.
The sanctions block assets they may hold under US jurisdiction and generally bar American individuals and companies from conducting transactions with them.
Washington has argued that the court has overstepped its authority and poses a threat to US sovereignty and the interests of its allies.
Tensions between the United States and the ICC escalated after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The latest sanctions added another layer to the dispute, with the UN continuing to back the court’s role in international criminal justice while Washington maintains its opposition to the ICC’s actions.