U.S. imposes sanctions on Cuban President, Treasury website shows

The Cuban government did not immediately ‌respond to a request for comment on the sanctions, ‌which also targeted four other ‌people ⁠and five entities, including ⁠the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba.

Diaz-Canel, 60, has served as ​President of ‌the Caribbean country since taking over from Raul Castro, the brother of Cuba’s former leader Fidel ‌Castro, in 2018.

Thursday’s action ​against Diaz-Canel is the latest by Washington to intensify pressure ⁠on the island’s communist leaders.

The sanctions were announced as U.S. President ‌Donald Trump told reporters that the U.S. wanted Cuba “to be a nicely run country.”

Last month, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on 11 Cuban officials, including the ‌country’s communications minister, several military leaders and ​its main intelligence agency.

The U.S. also charged Raul Castro ⁠with murder for his alleged involvement ⁠in a 1996 incident in which Cuban jets shot down ‌planes operated by a group of Cuban exiles.