U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that it has established a new task force to disrupt Iran’s use of ground transit routes and the Caspian Sea to move advanced weapons, dual-use technologies and sanctioned materials, extending the American pressure campaign beyond the sea.
Task Force Iron Gate, directed by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, will comprise about 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida. The team will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies to prevent the movement of weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illegal revenue streams across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.
“The establishment of Task Force Iron Gate reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea,” CENTCOM said in its announcement, noting that the naval blockade has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil in recent months.
The naval blockade was imposed in April and reimposed in July after a brief lifting during a June ceasefire. Lifting the blockade is among the conditions Iran has set for ending the war with the United States that began on February 28.
The announcement came as mediator Qatar said it has made significant progress in ongoing negotiations, with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressing confidence that a settlement can be reached. The new task force will focus on monitoring, detecting and disrupting illicit movements, while the existing naval blockade covers Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
