Iran condemned US sanctions on ICC judges as a dangerous blow to international justice. Tehran linked the move to Washington’s support of Israel amid Gaza conflict, calling the US an accomplice in war crimes. Tensions grow as global criticism of US foreign policy intensifies.
In a sharp rebuke of recent US foreign policy moves, Iran has strongly condemned Washington’s decision to sanction four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, described the sanctions as a “new low” and a blatant attempt to undermine international law and judicial independence.
The sanctions, announced by the US government on Thursday, come in the wake of the ICC’s controversial decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This decision by the court, which also follows a prior investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan, has stirred outrage in Washington. In response, the Biden administration sanctioned four sitting ICC judges: Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.
Reacting to the announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Baghaei stated, “Sanctioning and harassing ICC judges and personnel for upholding their judicial mandate is a new low, even for a system that is badly addicted to advancing its foreign policy through coercion and intimidation.” He further argued that such actions by the US reflect a growing disregard for international legal frameworks and reveal Washington’s willingness to use intimidation as a tool to shield allies from accountability.
Baghaei also linked the ICC sanctions to the US stance at the United Nations Security Council, where Washington voted against a resolution condemning what many describe as a genocide in Gaza. According to Baghaei, the timing of the sanctions — coming just a day after the UNSC vote — underscores a pattern of behavior aimed at shielding Israel from international scrutiny. He stated that the US has become the most “enduring and persistent accomplice” in “Israeli crimes in Gaza.”
The backdrop of these developments is the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli military has intensified its operations. In a parallel development, the Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had recovered the body of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior commander of Hamas, from a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis. The tunnel raid was part of a larger operation launched under heavy airstrikes on Wednesday.
The military also reported the death of Muhammad Shabaneh, commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade, in the same operation. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that both Sinwar and Shabaneh had been killed on May 13 during a joint mission involving the army and the Shin Bet intelligence agency. According to Israeli sources, several personal items and intelligence materials were recovered from the site, and further investigations are ongoing.
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The Israeli military claims that Mohammed Sinwar played a significant role in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and that he was a high-ranking operative within the militant group. His brother, Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas in Gaza, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in October 2024.
However, the broader context is one of immense suffering among Palestinian civilians. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll since October 2023 has risen to 54,880, with over 126,000 injured. The figures underline the heavy human cost of the ongoing conflict, which has drawn condemnation from humanitarian organizations and numerous governments worldwide.
Iran’s criticism of the US adds to a growing chorus of international voices concerned about the erosion of global legal institutions. As the ICC faces mounting pressure and the US draws fire for its retaliatory sanctions, questions arise over the future of international justice and the enforcement of accountability in global conflict zones.
Baghaei concluded his statement with a call to action, urging the international community to stand against what he termed “barbarism that is shaking the whole fabric of international law and unsettling the basic tenets of humanity.” His remarks serve as a stark reminder of the high geopolitical stakes involved and the pressing need for renewed international cooperation to uphold justice and human rights.
