Donald Trump has announced that negotiations with Cuba are underway, but no serious action will be taken regarding the country until the war with Iran is concluded. Simultaneously, with the intensification of U.S. sanctions and the cutoff of fuel supplies to Cuba, sporadic protests have escalated on the island. Cuba has confirmed it is in talks with the U.S. regarding "potential solutions" to bilateral disputes, while simultaneously bolstering its defensive capabilities.

China's official data shows industrial production and investment grew strongly in the first two months of 2026, but this growth is now overshadowed by the escalating Iran war. While retail and infrastructure sectors performed better than expected, surging oil prices and disruptions to international trade have darkened the outlook for Chinese exports. Beijing is now cautiously delaying economic stimulus measures to assess the impact of the Middle East crisis.

US President Donald Trump said his country does not know whether Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new leader, is still alive. Meanwhile, US allies have shown reluctance to respond to Washington's request for help in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz. According to some reports, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are in contact via the Signal messaging app. Separately, Iran linked maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has reached its highest level since the start of the war.

Donald Trump postponed his meeting with Xi Jinping by about 1 to 2 months due to the US involvement in the Iran war. While the delay introduces some uncertainty in relations, it gives China more time to reassess its position amid Middle East tensions. Officials say the pause is unlikely to have a major impact on the overall economic relationship.