"It is with deep concern that we note the latest actions announced by the government of the US. This is regrettable attempts to impede the Court and its personnel in the exercise of their independent judicial functions", The ICC's Governing Body said in a statement.

Meanwhile the European Union (EU) strongly supports the ICC, the Commission's Spokesperson said on Friday after Trump's administration imposed sanctions on four judges at the court.

The order names Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.

The ICC and some of its member states are urging the EU to use its blocking statute, which bans any EU company from complying with US sanctions, to counter the sanctions.

The new sanctions have been imposed at a difficult time for the ICC, which is already reeling from earlier US sanctions against its Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, who last month stepped aside temporarily amid a United Nations investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.

The ICC said in a written statement on Thursday that the sanctions were an attempt to undermine its independence.

--Reuters--