Trump says U.S. will 'take care of Cuba' on its way back from Iran

President Donald Trump. | Photo Credit: AP President ​Donald Trump said on Friday (October 23, 2026) ⁠the United States would take care of Cuba after dealing with Iran and would ‌send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finish the deal."We'll ‌take care of Cuba on ‌our ⁠way back from Iran ... then ⁠we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal," Mr. Trump told a ​rally in Florida.Mr. Trump predicted last month the U.S. and Cuba would reach an agreement and that he did not ‌think military action would be necessary.​The Trump administration has previously stated its goal is to change ⁠Cuba's communist government.A U.S.-imposed oil blockade implemented earlier this year has put ‌Cuba under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure.Washington has maintained an embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years and ‌the Trump administration has been stepping up pressure ​on Havana after the U.S. military in January seized then-Venezuelan ⁠President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid.⁠Cuba's Foreign Minister told the UN General Assembly last month Cuba ‌would always be open for dialogue with Washington. Published - October 24, 2026 07:11 am IST