WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), intensifying its efforts to weaken the tribunal over investigations involving the United States and its allies, including Israel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures late on October 9, shortly after South African jurist Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Pillay is a former judge at the ICC and other international courts. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to win the prize himself.

The sanctions will restrict the court's access to US financial services, technology companies, and the US dollar. American companies and individuals that do business with the ICC will have six months to end those activities.

Rubio defended the decision, accusing the court of acting beyond its authority and targeting the United States.

"We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate against us," Rubio said in a video message posted on social media.

The ICC condemned the sanctions, describing them as an attack on the rule of law and the international legal system. The criticism came just two days after Rubio delivered a speech at the Acropolis in Athens, where he appeared to support similar principles.

The court said the US measures were intended to obstruct justice and prevent it from carrying out its duties. It also stressed that the international legal system rests on the principle that no one is above the law.

ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese woman, said the court would continue its work independently and impartially. She emphasized that its decisions would remain based on law and evidence, aiming to secure justice for victims of serious crimes.

The latest sanctions are part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against the court for investigating alleged crimes involving the United States and its allies. The measures could make it harder for the tribunal to access the financial and technological services it needs to operate.

Trump attacks Nobel Peace Prize decision

Meanwhile, Trump criticized the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Pillay, calling her a "mystery person" during a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York.

He claimed he had never heard of Pillay and suggested her selection was not widely recognized. Trump has repeatedly expressed disappointment that he did not receive the award during his presidency.

"This is an indelible stain on the ‌country of Norway and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision," Trump said.

Trump listed several international disputes in which he claimed to have helped prevent or resolve conflicts. These included tensions between North and South Korea, Japan and North Korea, China and Taiwan, and India and Pakistan.

However, he provided no evidence to support his claims. India has firmly denied that Trump played any role in ending the conflict between India and Pakistan last year.

Trump argued that the Nobel Peace Prize had lost credibility because of what he described as the political views of those responsible for selecting its winners. He accused them of opposing democracy and said the United States would remember the decision.