US forms Iran border task force as blockade disables 11th ship
What's new: The 20-person team will target land routes and Caspian Sea shipments used to move weapons, dual-use goods and sanctioned cargo.
The US military has created Task Force Iron Gate to tighten pressure on Iran beyond a naval blockade that began in July. Based in Tampa, Florida, the 20-person unit will work with other US agencies to disrupt the movement of advanced weapons, dual-use technology and other sanctioned material across Iran’s land borders and through the Caspian Sea. The move came as US Central Command said it disabled another cargo vessel, the M/V Huda, bringing the number of ships stopped under the blockade to 11. Reuters reported that Iran has used routes from Russia, Central Asia and China to bring in at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives and heavy-duty trucks since January 2025.