US President Donald Trump has hinted he could launch an attack on Cuba immediately after the Iran war is over. The Pentagon has spent months positioning the troops and weapons needed for the U.S. to launch a military attack on Cuba. But now, it is just waiting for the final instructions from Trump.

Trump had mentioned an invasion of the island after the economic and political pressure failed to topple the country's communist government. The navy has built up a presence in the region, which would allow the USA to act quickly. These assets have set the table for military action, with the potential for a capture of Havana's leadership.

This could follow a similar set up to the seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba is in "a lot of trouble".

He added: “Having a failed state 90 miles from our shores is a threat to the national security of the United States.”

Politico reports that the US Navy’s presence in the Caribbean has not reduced even in light of the war in Iran.

This is not the first time the President has floated the idea of taking Cuba.

One inside source who is familiar with discussions inside the Trump administration told Politico in May: “The mood has definitely changed."

The person added: "The initial idea on Cuba was that the leadership was weak and that the combination of stepped-up sanctions enforcement, really an oil blockade, and clear U.S. military wins in Venezuela and Iran would scare the Cubans into making a deal.

"Now Iran has gone sideways, and the Cubans are proving much tougher than originally thought. So now military action is on the table in a way that it wasn’t before."