The new team will monitor land borders and the Caspian Sea to stop the movement of weapons and sanctioned goods.
The United States has established Task Force Iron Gate to track and disrupt land and Caspian Sea routes used by Iran to move weapons, sanctioned goods, and sensitive technology, according to reports by India Today, Moneycontrol, and Al Jazeera.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, ordered the creation of the team. The task force will consist of approximately 20 military and civilian personnel based in Tampa, Florida.
The initiative aims to restrict Iran's capacity to fund terrorism, replace military supplies, and rebuild weapon production facilities, Admiral Cooper said. The group will work with other US government agencies to monitor advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, and illegal revenue streams.
CENTCOM stated that its existing naval blockade has already stopped Iran from exporting more than USD 25 billion in crude oil in recent months. The new focus on land borders and the Caspian Sea follows efforts to close alternative routes used for trade with countries such as Russia and China.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed the move. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi told the Fars news agency that the US would be unable to implement such a blockade or stop communication between Iran and its neighbours.
Separately, CENTCOM reported that a US military aircraft disabled a St. Kitts-flagged cargo vessel, the M/V Huda, in the Gulf of Oman. The command also noted that since July, US forces have redirected 147 complying vessels and disabled five merchant ships that refused to comply.
