Havana: Cuba's new president Miguel Diaz-Canel has arrived in New York for his first trip to the United States, where he will denounce the decades-old US trade embargo on his country at the UN General Assembly.

Tensions have heightened between the Cold War foes after US President Donald Trump tightened the embargo last year following the resumption of diplomatic relations under his predecessor, Barack Obama. Washington also alleged a series of health attacks had taken place on US diplomats in Havana.

The Cuban government has said no attacks occurred and that the Trump administration was using whatever did occur - if indeed anything did - as a pretext to escalate its hostile stance on the Communist-run island.

Diaz-Canel, who took over the presidency from his mentor, Raul Castro, in April, will address the UNGA Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on Monday (US time) and the General Assembly on Wednesday, according to state-run outlet Cubadebate.