TEHRAN — Iran has issued a sharp condemnation of newly imposed US sanctions on Cuba, with Tehran accusing Washington of using “economic coercion” to punish sovereign states that defy American geopolitical interests. In a strongly worded statement posted to social media on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the sanctions were “inhuman measures” that violate international law.
“Once again, the US addiction to coercion and bullying has targeted a sovereign nation determined to exercise its right of self-determination and preserve its independence and dignity,” Baqaei stated on his official X account, formerly Twitter.
The Iranian official further declared that these actions were part of a “criminal economic blockade” that has long harmed the Cuban population, adding, “Such unjust and unlawful unilateral coercive measures would never affect the resolve of the Cuban people.” His remarks were reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Iran, itself subjected to decades of Western sanctions, framed its response as one of solidarity. “Iran… stands in full solidarity with the people and government of Cuba and wishes them continued strength and resilience,” Baqaei said, as quoted by Tasnim News.
US targets Cuba’s leadership over protest crackdown
According to a report by Associated Press, the sanctions include travel bans and visa restrictions on “those responsible for or complicit in human rights violations in Cuba.” The US also blacklisted military-owned companies and restricted financial dealings involving the Cuban elite.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions reaffirm “our commitment to the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom and dignity.” Rubio added, “Dictators who jail peaceful protestors cannot expect business as usual with the United States.”
Protests of 2021 still haunt Cuba’s international image
Protests were the largest mass mobilization against the Cuban government since the 1959 revolution. Demonstrators took to the streets in response to widespread blackouts, food shortages, and deteriorating public services. The protests were met with a heavy-handed crackdown by Cuban authorities.
As reported by Amnesty International, at least 700 people were sentenced for their involvement in the demonstrations. Human rights monitors, including the UN Human Rights Council, have raised concerns about “arbitrary detentions and politically motivated prosecutions” in Cuba since then.
A swing back to Trump-era ‘maximum pressure’
While President Joe Biden had removed Cuba from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism in January 2025, that decision was reversed once Donald Trump returned to the White House. According to Politico, Trump reinstated the terror designation and promised to reimpose the full spectrum of restrictions previously enforced during his first term, including limits on remittances, tourism, and banking.
This new package of sanctions appears to be part of that revived “maximum pressure” strategy. Observers say it reflects a return to Trump’s broader foreign policy posture: isolating ideological adversaries through economic strangulation rather than diplomatic engagement.
Tehran and Havana, united by resistance
Iran’s condemnation is not just rhetorical. Tehran has long styled itself as a champion of anti-imperial resistance, particularly among countries sanctioned by the West. According to Tehran Times, Iranian officials regularly reference the near-unanimous United Nations General Assembly votes calling for the end of the US embargo on Cuba. The 2024 vote passed with 187 nations in favor, with only the US and Israel opposed.
Both Iran and Cuba face similar accusations from the West—curbing civil liberties, controlling media, and silencing dissent. Yet both governments have leveraged those criticisms to project themselves as defenders of sovereignty against what they describe as Western interventionism.
As noted by IRNA, Iranian officials argue that unilateral sanctions amount to “collective punishment” and constitute a violation of fundamental human rights under international law.
The geopolitical lens
Analysts see Iran’s reaction as part of a broader effort to consolidate anti-Western alliances. The growing cooperation among countries like Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia is being framed not just in economic terms but as a joint ideological struggle. The recent BRICS expansion, of which Iran is now a member, is expected to provide new economic alternatives for countries under Western sanctions.
Furthermore, Iran’s support for Cuba is also strategic. As both nations navigate economic isolation, shared logistics, and diplomatic engagement can reduce their dependency on Western financial institutions. With US sanctions now targeting both countries more aggressively, Tehran’s expressions of solidarity with Havana are likely to evolve into more tangible cooperation in trade, health, and tech sectors.
