After blocking foreign oil shipments, the Trump administration is now allowing small amounts of oil to enter Cuba — as long as they circumvent government hands.

Cuba’s communist government is facing a breaking point in its battle for survival under pressure from President Trump, whose energy quarantine against the country is aimed at collapsing the regime.

Perspective: Trump could push hard and risk unleashing chaos, or hold back and risk losing influence.

The energy shortage was an overwhelming problem even before Mr Trump’s attention turned to Cuba. His threat to impose tariffs on any country which supplies Cuba with oil has become an effective embargo.

In a wide-ranging press gaggle, President Donald Trump spoke about the ongoing tensions with Iran and said the U.S. could engage in a "friendly takeover" of Cuba. Trump also lamented that he didn't like seeing former President Bill Clinton deposed in Congress' Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The gathering is a part of a car caravan heading from Tropical Park to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (also known as La Ermita de la Caridad), organized by the Cuban Anti-Communist Foundation.

Big picture: Tensions between Cuba and the United States are high. President Donald Trump declared Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S. in January and put economic sanctions on nations that sell Cuba oil. A judge blocked the government from searching a Post reporter’s devices.