The U.S. has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, making him the first person targeted under an order signed by President Donald Trump, two sources told Reuters. The sanctions freeze Khan’s U.S. assets and bar him and his family from entering the U.S.
Khan, a British national, was named in an annex to Trump’s executive order, though it has not yet been made public. The order instructs Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to recommend more individuals for sanctions within 60 days.
The ICC condemned the move, vowing to support its staff and continue prosecuting war crimes. In a statement, 79 countries warned the sanctions could erode international law and force the ICC to close field offices.
Under a U.N.-U.S. agreement, Khan should still be able to travel to New York to brief the Security Council on cases, including those in Libya and Sudan. U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq emphasized that the ICC must operate independently to fight impunity for war crimes.
Trump’s order coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. Netanyahu praised the sanctions, calling the ICC a “scandalous” body that undermines democracies’ right to self-defense. The court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas leaders over the Gaza war.
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