WANA (Feb 08) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman slammed U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it a “blatant abuse of power” aimed at granting total immunity to Israel for its crimes.

 

Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, reacted on Friday to Donald Trump’s decision to impose sanctions on the ICC, criticizing Washington’s continued interference in international institutions.

 

In a post on X, Baghaei wrote: “The U.S. addiction to extraterritorial enforcement of its domestic laws has now targeted international institutions.”

 

He further stated that sanctioning the ICC for investigating Israel’s atrocities is an unprecedented act of malice in America’s long history of collusion with the Israeli regime. He accused the U.S. of enabling “colonial-style erasure” of Palestine through its unwavering support for Israeli crimes.

 

“These sanctions represent a deliberate effort to shield Israel from accountability, providing it with a green light to commit further crimes and undermine global peace and security,” Baghaei emphasized.

 

The Iranian official urged the international community to recognize the dangers of this move and respond accordingly.

 

U.S. Sanctions ICC After Arrest Warrant for Israeli Leaders

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC for prosecuting the United States and its allies.

 

In response, the ICC issued a statement condemning the sanctions as an attack on its independent judicial work and vowed to continue delivering justice for victims of war crimes worldwide. The court urged its 125 member states and the global community to stand united in defense of justice and human rights.

 

The ICC had recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza, prompting fierce opposition from the U.S.