House Republicans cancel vote on war powers resolution to end US war in Iran
House Republicans cancel vote to end US war in Iran, avoiding embarrassment for Trump.
The Guardian World1 min read
US says it has not changed its stance on sanctioning Francesca Albanese
TL;DR
The US has denied any policy change regarding sanctions on Francesca Albanese, reaffirming its intention to return her to the sanctions list following a recent court ruling.
Key points
- US denies change in sanctions policy on Francesca Albanese
- Court ruling led to her temporary removal from sanctions list
- US plans to restore her name to the sanctions list
Mentioned in this story
Francesca AlbaneseUnited NationsInternational Criminal CourtDonald TrumpBenjamin Netanyahu
The United States has denied that the cancellation of sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territory, constitutes a change in the government’s policy.
On Thursday, the Department of State clarified that the administration of President Donald Trump only removed Albanese from a sanctions list due to a recent court ruling.
“The Government has appealed the court’s order,” the State Department added in its statement, before reaffirming its intention to return Albanese to the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs).
“In the event the DC Circuit stays or overturns that order, the Government intends to restore Ms Albanese’s name to the SDN List.”
The Trump administration targeted Albanese with sanctions in July 2025, after she recommended that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Albanese, a human rights expert, has been outspoken in her criticism of Israeli policies towards Palestinians, and she has issued reports documenting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The Palestinian death toll in the narrow territory is estimated to exceed 75,000.
While Albanese is Italian, her daughter is a US citizen, and she has assets in the country.
In February, her family filed a civil complaint in a US federal court in Washington, DC, seeking to overturn the sanctions as a violation of Albanese’s constitutional rights, including the right to free speech.
The lawsuit noted that Albanese lost access to her bank account and apartment, as well as financial systems with ties to the US.
“At its heart, this case concerns whether Defendants can sanction a person — ruining their life and the lives of their loved ones, including their citizen daughter — because Defendants disagree with their recommendations or fear their persuasiveness,” the lawsuit said.
On May 13, US District Judge Richard Leon sided with the plaintiffs, issuing a preliminary injunction to block the sanctions against Albanese.
Q&A
Why did the US impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese?
The US imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese in July 2025 after she recommended that the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
What recent court ruling affected Francesca Albanese's sanctions?
A recent court ruling led to the removal of Francesca Albanese from the sanctions list, but the US government has appealed this decision.
What is the US government's current stance on Francesca Albanese's sanctions?
The US government has clarified that it intends to restore Francesca Albanese to the sanctions list if the court's order is stayed or overturned.
