US Sanctions and Blockades Threaten Both Iran and Cuba

The United States has imposed significant sanctions on both Iran and Cuba, leading to severe economic and social consequences for the people in these countries. According to Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas, the Cuban Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the U.S. has been targeting Cuba since 1959 with a blockade that began in 1962. In his first term, President Trump added over 200 sanctions on Cuba, making life extremely difficult for its citizens.

Even during his second term, he continued this policy, imposing nearly 20 to 30 additional sanctions within just one year. The ambassador highlighted two particularly harsh sanctions related to Venezuela.

The U.S. administration’s intervention in Venezuela led to a sanction that threatens any country selling oil to Cuba with severe penalties, including sanctions and tariffs. This has resulted in Cuba receiving no oil shipments except for one from Russia, leading to dire situations such as hospital generators running out of fuel and agriculture being paralyzed.

The situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing U.S. sanctions against Iran, which have caused heavy losses due to illegal US blockades and sanctions. There are concerns that the U.S. may launch another war against Cuba, similar to its failed attempt in West Asia, aiming to create a narrative of victory through aggression.

Despite these challenges, Ambassador Lefebre Nicolas emphasized that Cubans will resist any attack and rally around their nation’s flag, drawing parallels with their historical resistance since the 1960s.