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The US government has slapped Cuba with new sanctions in a fresh push to
strangle the island's ecomomy and deepen its multiple crises.

Among those sanctioned in this round are the grandson of former president
Raul Castro and Cuba's Oil Industry Supply Import Compnay.

The company is responsible for importing special equipment and spare parts
needed to sustain the country's old power grid.

An expert says, the sanctions aim to push Cuba's critical machinery offline,
and exacerbate its energy crisis.

He added that the Trump administration's ultimate goal seems to be a toppling
of regime.

Islandwide blackouts have become increasingly common, while daily outages in
Cuba now surpass 24 hours as the aging grid fails and fuel reserves dwindle
ever since U.S. President Donald Trump in late January threatened tariffs on
any country that sells or provides oil to the island.