The United States announces new sanctions against Cuba’s BICSA bank, accusing it of providing services to Iran’s Karafarin Bank. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the measure targets BICSA for cooperation with Karafarin, an entity already designated by the United States.
Outlets report that Washington blacklists BICSA as part of its broader sanctions on Iran. The Rio Times and others say the bank has served Karafarin since 2022, while The Punch describes the action as based on alleged ties between the two banks. The Rio Times also reports that Cuban authorities criticize the move as collective punishment.
Across coverage, the key point is that the U.S. is expanding financial restrictions tied to Iran-related banking activity, with Cuba disputing the framing of the sanctions and emphasizing the impact on the country’s financial system.
