New Delhi, July 1 -- Talks between Cuba and the U.S. are at a standstill, despite the island recently approving a series of free-market reforms, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez announced Tuesday.

He noted that the newly unveiled reforms were neither mentioned nor discussed in earlier talks between the two nations.

"The recently announced (measures) are a matter of total and absolute sovereignty," Rodriguez said. "We have neither listened to nor are we interested in the U.S. government's opinion on them."

But he said it was striking that they "were met with a new package of unilateral coercive measures . against Cuba."

Earlier this month, the U.S. slapped new sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel and other officials, as...