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2026-07-15 06:38:11
[Trump Warns of "Dealing" with Iranian Drone Deployment in Cuba, Escalating US-Cuba Tensions] 1. On July 13, US President Trump stated that his administration was investigating claims that Iran was storing drones in Cuba and warned that Washington would take action if such weapons were confirmed to exist on the island. Trump said, "If they really have these drones, we'll deal with it." This followed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush's statement at an event that media reports indicated Tehran had transferred approximately 300 drones to Cuba. 2. Simultaneously, the US Treasury Department added the Cuban Ministry of Tourism and nine other state-owned entities to its sanctions list, including Enetec SA, Coreydan SA, and a foreign trade group involved in fuel imports. These measures build on the sanctions imposed in June on Cuban President Díaz-Canel and his family, as well as the son of former President Raúl Castro, aimed at curbing funding for "paramilitary forces repressing the Cuban people." 3. Washington's sanctions, coupled with the oil embargo, have plunged Cuba into a severe energy crisis. Analysts draw parallels between the current pressure and Washington's previous strategy toward Venezuela—which provided Cuba with substantial subsidized oil before its military intervention to overthrow Maduro. Cuban authorities recently announced 176 economic reforms aimed at expanding the private sector and deregulating businesses to alleviate economic pressures stemming from sanctions and fuel shortages.
