President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration is investigating whether Iran has drones or missiles stored in Cuba, warning that the United States would respond if such claims are confirmed.
"If they have them, and it's very possible that they do, we'll take care of it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added that officials were "looking into" the possibility that Tehran was storing military equipment on the island but acknowledged it "may be so, or it may not."
Trump did not present evidence to support the claim or provide details about the alleged weapons. The comments came in response to a question referencing an intelligence report that has not been made public. Trump also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was nearby, suggesting the matter was under review by the administration.
"There are reports about Iranian drones in Cuba..."@POTUS: "Well, if they do have that, and they might very well have that, we'll take care of it... we'll take care of it in short order. We're not going to have a problem. We're not going to allow that to happen." pic.twitter.com/whF0fCOrhF
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 13, 2026
The remarks build on a report published by Axios in May, which cited classified U.S. intelligence indicating that Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and has discussed contingency plans to use them against the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, U.S. military vessels and potentially Key West, Florida.
According to the report, U.S. officials do not believe Cuba poses an imminent military threat or is actively planning an attack, but intelligence indicates Cuban officials have discussed drone warfare scenarios if relations with Washington continue to deteriorate.
Axios also reported that Iranian military advisers have been present in Havana, that Cuba has sought additional drones and military equipment from Russia in recent months, and that Cuban intelligence officials have studied how Iran has responded to U.S. military pressure. A senior U.S. official described the drone buildup as "a growing threat" while emphasizing that Cuba's capabilities remain well below those seen during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
The issue has gained attention in recent days as other Republican officials echoed concerns about Cuba's military ties with Iran. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush cited reports that Cuba possesses 300 drones, saying Iran has "consistently been working with Cuba" to create instability in the region.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz separately called Cuba's government "a national security threat," alleging that China and Russia continue to operate intelligence collection facilities on the island.
Trump's comments came as his administration announced another round of sanctions targeting 10 Cuban state-linked entities involved in tourism, energy and trade, part of a broader effort to increase pressure on Havana.
