Iran slams US move to rename Cuba to terror list

By Bilal Guler

ANKARA (AA) - Iran’s Foreign Ministry “strongly” condemned on Tuesday a recent move by the US administration to re-designate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Tehran stands by Cuba in its resistance against the US, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

He rejected the “baseless” allegations that Havana supports terrorism and said Cuba is a free and active member of the UN.

“No country, especially the US regime, has the right to intervene in Cuba's internal affairs or to prohibit the country from establishing relations with another free country,” he said.

Khatibzadeh claimed that the US supports several terror organizations and said Iran is determined to develop bilateral relations with Cuba.

Iran is on Washington’s state sponsor of terrorism list alongside Cuba, North Korea and Syria.

In an apparent parting shot to its conservative base, the Trump administration on Monday re-designated Cuba, claiming Havana grants safe harbor to international terrorists.

The designation subjects Cuba to sanctions that would penalize individuals and countries engaging in certain trade with Cuba, restricts US foreign assistance and bans defense exports and sales.

Re-branding Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism -- a designation that ended in 2015 under then-President Barack Obama -- marks another step in reversing Obama’s softened stance toward the tiny Caribbean island state, and perhaps the Trump administration’s final step before it ends Jan. 20.

Cuba quickly denounced the move.

“We condemn the US announced hypocritical and cynical designation of Cuba as a State sponsoring terrorism,” Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Twitter.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz