HAVANA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Wednesday rejected accusations made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told the U.S. Senate that the island country sponsors terrorism.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X that Cuba's inclusion on the U.S. list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism is based on political criteria rather than evidence.

Rodriguez said the designation is "so arbitrary and devoid of moral sense that the U.S. Secretary of State himself lacks arguments before that country's Congress to justify the imposition of this criminal measure."

He said Rubio's remarks showed Washington's intention to keep pressure on Cuba.

"His mask crumbles. His political motivation and sole aim become clear: to strangle the Cuban economy by every possible means, provoke a humanitarian crisis, and promote military intervention in Cuba," Rodriguez said.

The Cuban foreign minister also said it was alarming that the congress allows "the lie of a public servant to stand."

Rubio made the remarks during a Senate hearing, where he defended the Trump administration's decision to keep Cuba on the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism.