On Thursday, Washington imposed new economic sanctions on Cuba, the fourth batch of sanctions in one month. This time, the sanctions target 3 officials.

The sanctioned officials are Roberto Legra Sotolongo, Andrés Laureano González Prieto - both members of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Abelardo Jiménez Gonzalez, Head of Prisons of the Ministry of the Interior.

According to a statement by the US Treasury, the sanctions target prominent officials in the Ministry of Defense and another in the Ministry of Interior, pointing out that "Cuban security forces have detained more than 800 people in response to the protests, with many being held in 'preventative jail,' and the whereabouts of multiple people still unknown."

Their assets in the United States were frozen, and their access to the American financial system was banned.  

A few days ago, the US Treasury announced imposing sanctions on two officials in the Cuban Ministry of Interior and a military unit in the Cuban army for allegedly "targeting protesters."

Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, Cuban Foreign Minister, said that US arbitrary measures against Cuba, along with disinformation and aggression, are being used to justify the inhumane blockade on the country. 

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on the Cuban police and its leaders in response to "violence against protesters."

In this context, US President Joe Biden said that there will be more sanctions, "unless there's some drastic change in Cuba, which I don't anticipate."