Trump says US probing possible Iranian drones in Cuba

President Donald Trump announced that the United States is investigating whether Iran has stored drones in Cuba and warned that Washington will act if the intelligence is confirmed. "If they have them, and it's very possible they do, we'll take care of it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Source: hoydo. He added that the administration is looking into the matter and will not allow it to happen.

The investigation and context

Trump's remarks followed press questions about an unconfirmed intelligence report. The president mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of the Cuban regime, was in the next room and involved in the discussions Source: abces. The White House has not released specific evidence, but the announcement comes amid heightened tensions with both Cuba and Iran.

• A report by Axios, cited by multiple outlets, claimed that Cuba has received over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, including the Iranian Shahed-136 model, which could potentially threaten US targets like Guantánamo Bay or Florida Source: euronewses.
• The Trump administration also imposed new sanctions on ten Cuban state entities, including Enetec S.A. and Coreydan S.A., targeting fuel imports and trade Source: elconfidencial.
• These measures add to an energy blockade that has caused nationwide blackouts, the most recent on July 10 Source: infobae.

Background and reactions

Separately, the Department of Justice has indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro for the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes, and sanctions have been applied to current President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his family Source: diariolibree. Cuba has not officially responded to Trump's drone allegations, but previous statements from officials have warned of a "bloodbath" if the US takes military action Source: infobae.