Iran Condemns US Sanctions on ICC Judges as “Profound Moral Aberration”

TEHRAN: Iran has strongly criticized the United States for imposing sanctions on two International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, calling the move a “profound moral aberration” and accusing Washington of shielding perpetrators of grave crimes.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the US for targeting judges attempting to hold war criminals accountable. “While genocidal war criminals remain at large and continue to commit egregious atrocities and crimes against humanity, the US intensifies pressure and imposes sanctions on those seeking justice,” he wrote.

The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, target ICC judges Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia. Enacted under an executive order by former US President Donald Trump, the measures restrict access to essential services and bar the judges from entering the United States.

The US action comes after the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his minister of military affairs, Yoav Gallant, for alleged “crimes against humanity and war crimes” during Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. According to UN reports, since October 2023, the Israeli military has killed more than 70,660 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and injured over 171,000 others.

Iran accused the United States of undermining international justice and enabling impunity for crimes committed against civilians, framing the sanctions as a stark example of “impunity in its most blatant and brutal form.”

The ICC, with 125 member states, has faced increasing pressure from Washington over the past year, including restrictions imposed in February 2025, which the White House justified as a response to “illegitimate actions” targeting the US and Israel.

Baghaei’s statement reinforces Tehran’s position that international accountability mechanisms must be protected from political interference and that the US sanctions represent a serious breach of international norms.