Trump had first floated this idea earlier this year, but has not mentioned it in recent monthsUS President Donald Trump has revived his threat of intervention in Cuba, suggesting that American warships returning from the war with Iran could stop near the island before secretary of state Marco Rubio steps in to negotiate a deal. Speaking at a rally in South Florida on Friday, Trump responded to a question shouted by someone in the crowd about Cuba.

“We’ll do a little stop over,” Trump said. “Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is, we’re going to come back from Iran.

Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast.

They’ll raise up their hands. And then we’re going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal.”

Trump had floated a similar idea earlier this year but had not raised it publicly in recent months. He has repeatedly suggested that Cuba could become the next focus of US intervention after the Iran war, which he has long predicted would wind down but has not yet ended.

Trump and Rubio turn up pressure on CubaTrump and Rubio have both adopted a hard line towards Cuba's communist government. In May, the two renewed the possibility of US military intervention, with the threat gaining further significance after the Trump administration announced criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office at the time that previous US presidents had considered intervening in Cuba for decades, adding that “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.” Rubio has argued that Cuba poses a national security threat because of its relationships with countries hostile to the US.

Although he has said Washington wants to resolve its differences with Havana peacefully, he has expressed doubts about reaching a diplomatic agreement with the island's current leadership. Shortly after Trump's speech on Friday, Rubio posted on social media that “now is the time” for action on Cuba.

Addressing those seeking to bring about change on the island, he urged them “to seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA.” Rubio has not spoken extensively about Cuba in recent weeks.

“The truth is Cuba has already fallen. “We are hopeful that Cuba will choose a different path.