Pakistan, Oct. 11 -- The United States has escalated its confrontation with the International Criminal Court by sanctioning the institution itself, moving beyond earlier measures against individual judges and prosecutors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington will prohibit transactions with what he called a "rogue court," while the Treasury has provided a six-month grace period and exemptions for some activities. The ICC has condemned the measure, and several US allies, along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have opposed it.

Washington's objections to the Court are longstanding. The United States never ratified the Rome Statute and rejects the proposition that its citizens, or nationals of non-member allies such as Is...