US President Donald Trump said on Friday (October 23) the United States would take care of Cuba after dealing with Iran and would send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finish the deal, Reuters reports.
"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," Trump told a rally in Florida.
Trump predicted last month the US 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 US-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 US 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 dialog with Washington.
"To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba - now is the time," Rubio, who has been handling much of the Cuba-related policy for Trump, said on X on Friday.
Rubio urged those disappointed by Cuba's government to "seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA," without elaborating further.
