Expanding on naval blockade, US military to create task force to restrict Iranian land commerce

After a months-long naval blockade on Iran, the US military is setting up a task force to bolster Washington's efforts to restrict Tehran's movement of advanced weapons systems and other sanctioned material across its land borders and the Caspian Sea, according to a US Central Command (CENTCOM) announcement on Saturday.

Task Force Iron Gate, as it will be called, will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other US government agencies. Beyond the movement of weapons, it will also focus on dual-use and illegal revenue streams.

The task force will be made up of an internal staff of around 20 civilian and military personnel.

Task force aimed at stifling Iran's terror financing, replenishing arms

"Strengthening CENTCOM’s collaboration with US interagency partners will further constrain Iran’s ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish its military," Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of Central Command, said in a statement.

CENTCOM estimated that its naval blockade has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil so far.