US sanctions against Cuba causing fuel shortage – FM

HAVANA, Sept 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — US sanctions on oil shipments to Cuba are causing a fuel shortage in the Caribbean nation, said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Rodriguez denounced the imposition of stiff fines on vessels and shipping lines that supply fuel to Cuba, saying they were part of a larger plan to harm Cuba.

“Preventing fuel delivery to our country is part of the genocidal actions against Cuba. This harms our people and cause(s) hardships and difficulties that are currently affecting every Cuban family. The only one responsible is the U.S. government,” Rodriguez said via Twitter.

Last week, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel unveiled a package of measures designed to cope with the fuel shortage, including temporarily scaling back production at several state-owned companies.

Also Monday, Rodriguez warned the U.S. government might try to distract attention from an economic downturn in the United States by creating conflicts abroad, days after U.S. Secretary of State blamed Iran for recent drone attacks on Saudi Oil facilities.