Trump says 'could strike Iran tomorrow, or strike a beautiful deal'

President Donald Trump suggested during a rally in South Florida that U.S. warships returning from the Middle East could briefly dock in Cuba en route back from the Iran conflict, reigniting his proposal to engage with the island nation. The idea had previously been mentioned earlier this year but has seen a resurgence in the run-up to midterm elections, with voters expressing concerns over the economic impact of the U.S. war on Iran.

Trump responded to a shouted question from the crowd, stating, "We'll do a little stopover," and claimed that during their return from Iran, "those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast... and then we're going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal." Both Trump and Rubio have expressed strong support for action in Cuba, with Trump previously suggesting it could "be next" in terms of U.S. intervention abroad.

In May, Trump and Rubio raised the possibility of military intervention in Cuba, a statement that gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against Cuba's former leader, Raúl Castro. Trump claimed that previous U.S. presidents had considered intervention in Cuba for decades, but he would be the one to do it.

Rubio, speaking separately, acknowledged that Cuba has been a national security threat due to its ties to U.S. adversaries and hinted that a "discrete partnership with the CIA" might be necessary. After Trump's speech, Rubio posted on social media that "now is the time" for action on Cuba, urging supporters to "seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."

However, Rubio has largely refrained from discussing Cuba in depth publicly for several weeks, with his previous comments focused on Cuba's economic struggles and the need for change.