Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. announced that he plans to invite political dissidents to the 2017 inauguration ceremony should he be elected president.

The Republican senator delivered a speech in New York City, at an event sponsored by the Foreign Policy Initiative, where he offered a three-point plan to deal with Iran and Cuba. He also vowed to invite dissidents from both countries, along with other countries with repressive governments, to his inaugural address if he wins the White House.

"I will make this pledge here and now: As president, as a symbol of solidarity between my administration and those who strive for freedom around the world, I will invite Cuban dissidents, Iranian dissidents, Chinese dissidents, and freedom fighters from around the world to be honored guests at my inauguration," said the GOP presidential candidate, according to SaintPetersBlog.

The 2016 hopeful went on to criticize Secretary of State John Kerry over the fact that Cuban dissidents were excluded from the official flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Havana on Friday.

"Cuba's dissidents have fought for decades for the very Democratic principles President Obama claims to be advancing through these concessions," said the 44-year-old senator. "Their exclusion from this event has ensured it will be little more than a propaganda rally for the Castro regime."

According to Rubio, the Obama administration compromised the United States' moral authority and status in the international community by taking a diplomatic approach to restoring ties with Cuba and lifting sanctions on Iran.

Rubio also blasted Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for stating that the Cuban people are suffering because of the lack of American tourism in the country. "The truth is the Cuban people are suffering because they live in a tyrannical dictatorship," said Rubio.

"The same president who visited a U.S. prison to talk about inequities in our criminal justice system is silent about the fact that minor offenses in Iran and Cuba are punishable by indefinite detention, torture, or even death - and these offenses often include nothing more than speaking out with the wrong political opinion," he added.