US imposes sanctions aiming to 'dismantle' International Criminal Court

JUST IN: US imposes new sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to 'dismantle' the organisation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US will 'ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources'.

The United States just sanctioned the International Criminal Court, and it isn't being subtle about the goal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington will ban transactions with what he called this rogue court, cutting off its resources and crippling its ability to operate. His words, not mine. The stated aim is to dismantle the institution entirely, and that word came from Rubio himself months ago.

This is the court in The Hague, backed by 125 countries, more than half the UN. The flashpoint is its arrest warrants for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Netanyahu, warrants both Washington and Israel furiously opposed. The court has also issued one for Vladimir Putin. ICC President Tomoko Akane fired back today, saying the court will keep working with independence and impartiality for the countless victims of grave crimes.

And the timing is remarkable. These sanctions landed hours after a former ICC judge won the Nobel Peace Prize.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.