The Cuban government has firmly rejected new sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump, calling them "unilateral coercive measures" intended to impose "collective punishment on the Cuban people."

In a social media post on Friday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated that "these measures are extraterritorial in nature and violate the United Nations Charter," further asserting that the US "has no right whatsoever to impose measures against Cuba or against third countries or entities."

"While the US government represses its own people in the streets, it seeks to punish ours, who are heroically resisting the US imperialism's attacks," the foreign minister said.

Rodriguez's remarks came hours after the White House signaled a further hardening of its policy toward the Caribbean island. On Friday, Trump issued an executive order to expand sanctions on the Cuban government, according to two White House officials who spoke to Reuters. The move is part of Washington's effort to ramp up pressure on Havana.

The new US sanctions target individuals and groups that assist the Cuban government's security forces, as well as those involved in corruption, serious human rights abuses, or anyone working as an official or supporter of the Cuban government.

A White House statement, without evidence, claimed that Cuba serves as a "safe haven for transnational terrorist groups" such as the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The Trump administration has recently threatened Cuba with military attacks and has tightened an effective fuel blockade, shattering the island's already weakened economy and imposing huge burdens on everyday Cubans.

Source: www.aljazeera.com