US expands sanctions against Cuba amid denunciation of 'unilateral coercive measures'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order expanding sanctions on the Cuban government, drawing a swift and sharp rebuke from Havana.

Trump ordered that all property and interests in property that are in and coming within the United States, or are in or coming within the possession or control of U.S. persons of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.

The "following persons" include those who operate in or have operated in the energy, defense and related materiel, metals and mining, financial services, or security sector of the Cuban economy, or any other sector of the Cuban economy, as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State.

It also includes those who own or control, directly or indirectly, any person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.

The order also seeks to limit Cuba's access to the global banking system, imposing secondary sanctions on people, entities and financial institutions that conduct financial transactions with those already sanctioned because of their ties to Cuba.

The order authorizes the U.S. government to penalize foreign financial institutions that have conducted or facilitated any significant transaction for or on behalf of anyone with ties to the Cuban government.

Trump authorized the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to take all actions necessary to implement and effectuate the order.

In response, Cuba denounced the new U.S. sanctions as "unilateral coercive measures."

"We firmly reject the recent unilateral coercive measures adopted" by the U.S. government, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Friday on X.

These actions demonstrate an intention to impose collective punishment on the Cuban people, Rodriguez said.

He noted that the announcement coincided with May 1, when millions of Cubans take to the streets to denounce the U.S. blockade and the energy siege.

"These measures are extraterritorial in nature and violate the United Nations Charter," Rodriguez said, adding that the United States has no right to impose measures against Cuba or against third countries or parties.

The United States has maintained sanctions against Cuba for over 60 years, with a comprehensive trade embargo officially instituted in February 1962. The sanctions have remained in place, and at times tightened or slightly eased ever since.

US expands sanctions against Cuba amid denunciation of 'unilateral coercive measures'

US expands sanctions against Cuba amid denunciation of 'unilateral coercive measures'

Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said on Monday that the first round of high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland had significantly advanced efforts to release frozen Iranian assets, while the U.S. side suggested the funds could be channeled toward American farm exports.

Hemmati told the country's semi-official Tasnim News Agency that "significant progress" had been made on the asset releases, with the relevant documents signed during the negotiations.

Referring to the unfreezing of the central bank's overseas assets as one of the most complex items on the agenda, the central bank chief said the funds will be phased into use in the coming days, in accordance with conditions and procedures established by the bank.

Regarding the export of oil and petroleum products, Hemmati said the two parties have agreed that the Office of Foreign Assets Control under the U.S. Treasury Department will be responsible for sanctions waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical shipments.

After the U.S. and Iran held high-level talks at Switzerland's Burgenstock resort, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Monday that if the U.S. agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, the funds could be used to purchase American soybeans, corn and wheat.

Iran reports significant progress on asset unfreezing as US eyes agricultural exports