HAVANA — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized President Donald Trump's remarks and said that any act of aggression would encounter impregnable resistance. Trump said that he can do whatever he wants with Cuba and that Washington could take imminent action against it.

"In the face of the worst scenario, Cuba is accompanied by a certainty: any external aggressor will clash with an impregnable resistance," Díaz-Canel said. He said that the administration publicly threatens the Cuban government almost daily with overthrowing it.

Trump said "Cuba wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do." He also said "Whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth." During a White House event, he said "We'll be doing something with Cuba very soon."

Earlier this year, the Trump administration threatened steep tariffs on any country that ships oil to Cuba, choking off the country's access to petroleum and leading to fuel shortages. The administration has effectively halted vital oil exports to Cuba. The halt of U.S. oil exports has contributed to severe economic difficulties in Cuba.

A U.S. official and a source with knowledge of talks said that the Trump administration is seeking the departure of Miguel Díaz-Canel as the U.S. continues negotiations with the Cuban government. Those individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive talks. No details have been offered about who the administration might want to see in power in Cuba.

In January, a U.S. official said that the U.S. seeks to negotiate with Havana to transition away from its authoritarian communist system rather than trigger its collapse. Last month, President Trump said that a friendly takeover of Cuba was possible.

Cuba faces a collapsing energy grid and is experiencing widespread power blackouts. Public protests were reported in Cuba last week. Activist groups from multiple countries delivered five tons of medical equipment, solar panels and other aid to Cuba.

Decades of U.S. sanctions have crippled Cuba's economy, and the Cuban government places heavy restrictions on private-sector activity. Cuba is under U.S. sanctions that make it difficult for Americans to invest in Cuba without U.S. government permission, with some exceptions. The U.S. State Department bans direct financial transactions with companies affiliated with Cuba's military or intelligence services.