The United States has introduced new sanctions against Cuba, focusing on financial transactions and limiting travel for American citizens. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a division of the Treasury Department, updated these restrictions, which now prohibit indirect financial dealings with certain Cuban entities, including those tied to the country's security forces and Gaesa, an economic group linked to the Cuban military. The updated rules also eliminate an earlier authorization that allowed U.S. banks to process dollar payments involving Cuba, provided the transactions started and ended outside the United States and did not involve U.S. citizens. Additionally, the new regulation removes the ability of U.S. banks to open or maintain accounts for Cuban private sector entrepreneurs, a provision that had been introduced in 2024 under President Joe Biden. The new OFAC regulation, published on Tuesday, also narrows the categories of travel authorized for American citizens to Cuba, which had previously been expanded under President Barack Obama. Travel for cultural exchanges and professional conferences now requires specific approval. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez commented on X, stating that the new measures aim to "hinder the ongoing process of economic transformations" in Cuba. He referred to a reform program launched in June, which seeks to move the country toward a more market-oriented economy. Rodriguez noted that the sanctions target both the public and private sectors, despite claims by some U.S. officials that they aim to support development in Cuba. The tightening of U.S. policy toward Cuba comes as the Cuban private sector has seen a record increase in imports from the United States. According to data from the American Census Bureau, Cuba imported $149 million worth of goods in July, the highest monthly total since 1992. This growth in trade has occurred despite the deteriorating relationship between the two nations, which has worsened since Donald Trump returned to power. President Trump has described Cuba as an "extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security and has repeatedly threatened to "take control" of the island. The United States has also imposed a de facto oil embargo on Cuba since January, contributing to a severe economic and energy crisis in the country. Washington has made its stance clear, with officials openly expressing a desire for a change in Cuba's government. The new sanctions, combined with the oil restrictions, reflect a strategy of maximum pressure aimed at undermining the Cuban government and its policies. This approach has intensified tensions and raised concerns about the future of U.S.-Cuba relations, particularly as Cuba continues to pursue economic reforms despite the challenges posed by these external pressures.