Highlights:
- Trump says the US wants to “finish” the Iran conflict before addressing Cuba.
- Claims US and Israeli forces have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
- Suggests Iranian leaders are seeking negotiations to end the war.
- Hints that Cuba is eager to negotiate with Washington.
- Says global oil markets have stabilised despite the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States will prioritise concluding the ongoing conflict with Iran before potentially turning its focus toward Cuba, hinting at a possible shift in American foreign policy once the Middle East crisis subsides.
Speaking at the White House during an event celebrating the Inter Miami CF championship victory in Major League Soccer, Trump said the administration’s immediate priority remains the war involving Iran. However, he suggested that attention could later move toward relations with Cuba.
“We want to finish this one first,” Trump said while referring to the conflict with Iran. “But that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba.”
The remarks appeared to signal a potential change in Washington’s strategic focus after the current hostilities in the Middle East come to an end.
Trump also claimed that Havana is eager to negotiate with the United States. According to the president, Cuban leaders are interested in reaching an agreement with Washington and improving ties that have long been strained. Relations between the US and Cuba have historically been tense, particularly during periods of heightened ideological and political differences.
The president used the event to provide an optimistic assessment of the ongoing war with Iran. He said the United States military, working alongside Israel, had made significant progress in weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
“The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy, far ahead of schedule,” Trump said.
He further claimed that Iran’s armed forces had suffered extensive damage during the conflict. According to Trump, Iran no longer has a functioning air force or effective air defence systems. He also asserted that Iran’s naval capabilities had been destroyed, stating that US forces had sunk 24 Iranian ships within three days.
However, the president did not provide operational details to support these claims, and the statements could not immediately be independently verified.
Trump also suggested that Iranian leaders are now seeking negotiations to bring the conflict to an end. He said Iranian officials had reached out to discuss the possibility of a deal but claimed the US was not in a hurry to halt military operations.
“They’re calling, they’re saying, ‘How do we make a deal?’” Trump said. “I said, ‘You’re being a little bit late, and we want to fight now more than they do.’”
At the same time, Trump encouraged Iranian diplomats and political figures to participate in shaping the country’s future political system. He suggested that those willing to cooperate with the United States could help build what he described as a “new and better Iran.”
The president also addressed concerns about the global energy market amid the conflict. Trump said oil prices had largely stabilised despite the tensions, though he acknowledged the war had temporarily disrupted US priorities.
“The oil seems to have pretty much stabilised,” he said, adding that the administration may soon announce additional steps aimed at easing pressure on global energy markets.
For now, however, the White House maintains that the central focus remains the war with Iran, even as Trump hinted that US attention could eventually shift toward Cuba once the conflict concludes.
