The United States military has widened its pressure campaign against Iran from the sea to the land, announcing a new task force to disrupt Tehran's movement of weapons and sanctioned material across its borders and the Caspian Sea.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that Task Force Iron Gate, a team of about 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida, will coordinate with other American government agencies. Its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, ordered the unit's creation on 7 November.

The task force will target the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illegal revenue streams. Those are the flows the existing naval blockade, enforced against Iranian ports since July, cannot reach.

CENTCOM said the sea blockade has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil. Yet a Reuters investigation found Iran built a secret network of military agencies that imported at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives and heavy-duty trucks since January 2025, evading both the blockade and Western sanctions.

The material entered Iran by cargo ship across the Caspian Sea from Russia, by truck from Central Asia and by freight plane from China, the investigation found. A US military official said the new task force was expected to work with the Treasury, State and Justice Departments and the intelligence community.

"Strengthening CENTCOM's collaboration with US interagency partners will further constrain Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish their military," Admiral Cooper said in a statement.

CENTCOM described Iron Gate as an internal coordination staff, giving no details of its legal authorities or partner countries.

It comes more than eight months into the US-Israeli war on Iran, as President Donald Trump threatens a fresh offensive while mediators push for a deal.

[Source: duke.fm](https://duke.fm/2026/11/07/exclusive-expanding-on-naval-blockade-us-military-looks-to-restrict-iranian-land-commerce/) | [Source: geopolitiki.com](https://geopolitiki.com/military/centcom-task-force-iron-gate-iran-land-routes/)