The Trump administration is looking for a potential new Cuban leader while intensifying pressure on Havana, according to a New York Times report that described a broader and more organized U.S. effort against the Cuban government. Citing U.S. officials, the report said the administration has been searching for current and former Cuban officials who could smoothly take over while working with Washington, with officials discussing a Venezuela-style transition model. The newspaper also said the CIA has quietly created a Cuba task force and that intelligence agencies have been asked to identify a figure comparable to Delcy Rodriguez, who it said became Venezuela’s interim president in January after the arrest of former President Nicolas Maduro. The report added that U.S. intelligence agencies are skeptical such a transition would be straightforward, saying Cuba looks more like Iran than Venezuela and that few pragmatic officials appear ready to assume power if the current leadership steps aside. Within Cuba, Vice Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga is said to be gaining support in succession discussions, while Washington could be more open to Raul G. Rodriguez Castro and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas. The Times said CIA Director John Ratcliffe met both men during a visit to Cuba in May. The report comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington is waging an unprecedented economic war on Cuba, has not ruled out further sanctions, and plans to keep up pressure for the next 2½ years.