Trump says Cuba 'is going to be next' after Iran operation

US President Donald Trump reiterated Sunday that Cuba is "next" after the military operation against Iran and the Caribbean island nation will fail soon. "Cuba is going to be next," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, DC. He called Cuba "a mess." "It's a failing country, and they're going to be next. Within a short period of time, it's going to fail, and we will be there to help it out. We'll be there to help our great Cuban Americans out," he added.

Russian oil tanker

Asked whether a New York Times report that a Russian oil tanker would be allowed to reach Cuba was true, Trump said he has "no problem" with it. "We don't mind having somebody get a boatload, because they have to survive. I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem, whether it's Russia or not," he said.

Impact on Putin

Asked if he is worried that would help his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Trump said it does not help Putin. "He loses one boatload of oil. That's all it is. It's fine. If he wants to do that and if other countries want to do it, it doesn't bother me much. It's not gonna have an impact, Cuba's finished." He added: "They have a bad regime. They have a very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it's not going to matter. I'd prefer letting it in, whether it's Russia or anybody else, because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you need."

Cuba blockade

The US imposed a total oil blockade on Cuba in January after US forces raided Venezuela and captured former President Nicolas Maduro. Washington blocked Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and threatened tariffs on any countries delivering oil to the island. Cuba has not received any oil since January, according to President Miguel Diaz-Canel, with domestic production covering only about 40% of the country's needs.