--- title: "ICC takes steps to shield itself from US sanctions" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-25T15:46:21.925Z" source_reported: "2026-09-25T14:56:17.000Z" updated: "2026-09-25T15:46:21.925Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-25T15:45:29.881631+00:00" --- # ICC takes steps to shield itself from US sanctions *Court changes software and banking arrangements amid threats of punitive measures* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named official, with details on system changes and prior reporting from Reuters. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is largely based on digests, with limited original detail and no direct quotes from affected parties. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong protective language like 'armored' and 'shielded' which is not fully supported by the body. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken steps to protect itself from potential US sanctions, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan stated. - The court has switched its software from Microsoft to openDesk and made alternative arrangements for banking and health insurance. - US President Donald Trump has previously criticised the ICC, calling it an 'anti-American tribunal without jurisdiction'. - A UN fact-finding mission had previously concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in Iran. The International Criminal Court has taken measures to shield itself from potential United States sanctions, according to Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. Khan told the Financial Times that the court has worked to ensure it is protected from the impact of future sanctions. These steps include changing its office software from Microsoft to the open-source alternative openDesk and arranging for alternative banking and health insurance. The court has also been paying staff salaries months in advance to mitigate potential disruptions. ## Disagreement on US sanctions preparation Reuters reported that the Trump administration had prepared sanctions against the entire ICC. However, the verified claims provided do not include any outlet reporting that the sanctions have been officially prepared or announced, only that the ICC is preparing for potential sanctions. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the UN fact-finding mission's conclusion that there were reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in Iran. The left-rated report included this detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 11% (1) - Centre: 11% (1) - Right: 78% (7) 11 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-25T15:45:29.881631+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-25T16:00:41.611Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from in.gr, which is a full report, led with the ICC's protective measures against US sanctions, quoting Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. It also detailed the software and banking changes. The report noted that Reuters had previously stated the Trump administration had prepared sanctions against the entire ICC. It included statements from Donald Trump at the UN, where he called the ICC an 'anti-American tribunal without jurisdiction' and urged member states to withdraw. The report also referenced a UN fact-finding mission's conclusion that there were reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in Iran. ### Centre - The centre-rated report from WTVB, a digest, stated that the ICC has insulated itself against potential court-wide US sanctions, quoting Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. It included Khan's statement that the court has done a lot of work to ensure it is buffered from the impacts of any potential sanctions in the future. The digest also noted that the tribunal has spent the past year changing its technology systems and making arrangements to protect its operations. ### Right - Seven right-rated reports, all digests, focused on the ICC preparing for or being shielded against potential US sanctions. These reports quoted Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan stating the court has taken steps to protect itself. Several mentioned the switch from Microsoft to openDesk software and alternative banking and insurance arrangements. One digest noted that US President Trump has had the court in his sights, calling it an 'anti-American tribunal without jurisdiction'. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 7 - unknown: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [n1info.rs](https://n1info.rs/svet/medjunarodni-krivicni-sud-zasticeni-smo-od-potencijalnih-americkih-sankcija) — International Criminal Court: We Are Protected From Potential US Sanctions - [sofokleousin.gr](https://sofokleousin.gr/epikairotita/diethni/diethnes-poiniko-dikastirio-thorakismeno-apenanti-se-pithanes-kyr) — International Criminal Court: "Armored" Against Possible Trump Sanctions - [LB.ua](https://en.lb.ua/news/2026/09/25/43012_international_criminal_court.html) — International Criminal Court Moves to Shield Itself From Possible US Sanctions - [onlarissa.gr](https://onlarissa.gr/2026/09/25/diethnes-poiniko-dikastirio-eimaste-thorakismenoi-apenanti-se-pithanes-amerikanikes-kyroseis) — International Criminal Court: We Are Shielded Against Possible American Sanctions - ONLARISSA.GR News Larissa - [www.ertnews.gr](https://ertnews.gr/eidiseis/diethnes-poiniko-dikastirio-eimaste-thorakismenoi-apenanti-se-pithanes-amerikanikes-kyroseis) — International Criminal Court: We Are Shielded Against Possible US Sanctions - [The Press Project](https://thepressproject.gr/to-dpd-echei-thorakistei-enanti-amerikanikon-kyroseon-leei-i-anaplirotria-eisangeleas) — ICC Has Shielded Itself From US Sanctions, Says Deputy Prosecutor - The Press Project - News, Analysis, Radio, Television - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2166671/ft-to-dpd-dilonei-thorakismeno-enanti-pithanon-kyroseon-ton-ipa) — FT: ICC Says It Is Shielded Against Possible US Sanctions - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/234341_diethnes-poiniko-dikastirio-thorakismeno-apenanti-se-kyroseis-ton-ipa) — ICC: "The Court Is Shielded Against Possible US Sanctions" - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/world/international-criminal-court-says-it-has-taken-steps-to-withstand-potential-us-sanctions-report/4069272) — International Criminal Court Says It Has Taken Steps to Stand with Potential US Sanctions: Report - [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/internationaal/10611232/internationaal-strafhof-ingedekt-tegen-mogelijke-sancties-vs) — International Criminal Court ‘Covered’ Against Possible US Sanctions - [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/buitenland/icc-bereidt-zich-voor-op-meer-sancties-vs-gestopt-met-microsoft) — ICC Prepares for More Sanctions; US Discontinues Microsoft - [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/icc-bereidt-zich-voor-op-meer-sancties-vs-gestopt-met-microsoft) — ICC Prepares for More Sanctions; US Discontinues Microsoft - [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/icc-bereidt-zich-voor-op-meer-sancties-vs-gestopt-met-microsoft) — ICC Prepares for More Sanctions; US Discontinues Microsoft - [The News](https://thenews.com.pk/latest/1417608-icc-buffered-itself-against-us-sanctions-deputy-prosecutor-says) — ICC ‘buffered’ itself against US sanctions, deputy prosecutor says - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/icc-bereidt-zich-voor-op-meer-sancties-vs-gestopt-met-microsoft) — ICC Prepares for More Sanctions; US Discontinues Microsoft - [regionalmedianews.com](https://regionalmedianews.com/world/icc-deputy-prosecutor-says-court-insulated-against-us-sanctions-ft-reports) — ICC deputy prosecutor says court insulated against US sanctions, FT reports - Regional Media News - [in.gr](https://in.gr/2026/09/25/world/to-diethnes-poiniko-dikastirio-prostateyetai-apo-tis-amerikanikes-kyroseis-symfona-me-tin-anaplirotria-eisaggelea) — The International Criminal Court Is Protected From US Sanctions, According to the Deputy Prosecutor - [Unknown](https://eurointegration.com.ua/news/2026/09/25/7246292) — The ISS Says They Are Protected From Potential US Sanctions - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/icc-deputy-prosecutor-says-court-insulated-against-us-sanctions-ft-reports) — ICC deputy prosecutor says court insulated against US sanctions, FT reports - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/25/icc-deputy-prosecutor-says-court-insulated-against-us-sanctions-ft-reports) — ICC deputy prosecutor says court insulated against US sanctions, FT reports ## Questions **What steps has the ICC taken to protect itself from US sanctions?** The ICC has changed its office software from Microsoft to openDesk, arranged alternative banking and health insurance, and has been paying staff salaries months in advance to mitigate potential disruptions from US sanctions. **What has Donald Trump said about the ICC?** Donald Trump has previously called the ICC an 'anti-American tribunal without jurisdiction' and urged member states to withdraw from the court, stating Washington would never allow American military personnel to face what he described as 'show trials'. **What did the UN fact-finding mission conclude regarding US forces in Iran?** A UN fact-finding mission concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in Iran. The mission cited two attacks in February, including one that hit a school in Minab, as constituting such crimes. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "ICC takes steps to shield itself from US sanctions", https://mediabias.news/politics/icc-takes-steps-to-shield-itself-from-us-sanctions