Trump Restarts the Sanctions Machine: Cuba, Mexico, Iran, the UN, and Haiti in U.S. Crosshairs

Washington, July 13, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump is intensifying his aggressive foreign policy through a new barrage of targeted sanctions, signaling a deliberate return to “maximum pressure” diplomacy. From the Cuban president to transnational criminal networks, Mexican financial institutions, UN officials, and Haitian gangs, the Trump administration is aiming to strike hard and fast.

Cuba in the Spotlight: Diaz-Canel and Ministers Banned

Exactly four years after the historic July 2021 protests were suppressed, the U.S. State Department has sanctioned Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera, and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas. They stand accused of serious human rights violations, including torture and arbitrary detention. These officials are now barred from U.S. territory, and a state-owned hotel in Havana has been blacklisted, prohibiting all transactions with U.S. citizens.

Mexican Banks Targeted in the Fentanyl War

In another offensive, the U.S. Treasury, via FinCEN, has sanctioned two major Mexican banks and a brokerage firm for money laundering on behalf of cartels and involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors from China. These represent the first sanctions applied under the recently passed FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

The Foxtrot Network and Iran Under Pressure

Simultaneously, Washington has designated the “Foxtrot” network—a transnational criminal organization linked to Iran—as a major security threat. Foxtrot is accused of drug and arms trafficking, as well as antisemitic acts in Europe. The U.S. government views this as a direct strike against Tehran’s global destabilization agenda.

Unprecedented Sanctions Against a UN Expert

In a rare move, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine, accusing her of leading an illegitimate campaign against the U.S. and Israel at the International Criminal Court. Washington has denounced this as “lawfare” and maintains it is protecting its national sovereignty.

Haiti: Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif in the Line of Fire

In a landmark shift, the U.S. successfully pushed for two Haitian gangs to be added to the UN Sanctions Committee blacklist: Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif. Labeled as terrorist organizations, they are cited for extreme violence, kidnappings, and attacks on public institutions. This decision reflects Washington’s assertive leadership on the Haitian crisis. Donald Trump appears intent on internationalizing the fight against gangs to justify more robust military cooperation, including the ongoing Kenyan-led mission.

An Offensive and Multifaceted Trump Doctrine

From Latin America to the Middle East and the Caribbean, Donald Trump is reactivating the “maximum pressure” strategy. Haiti has officially joined the list of countries where U.S. sanction policy no longer targets just individuals, but entire national criminal structures, with potential long-term impacts on Haitian sovereignty, financial circuits, and international aid.