The U.S. Central Command established Task Force Iron Gate on Saturday to disrupt Iran's overland and Caspian Sea routes for moving advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illicit revenue.

Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, directed the creation of the small internal unit of about 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida. The task force will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies to monitor, detect, and disrupt such movements across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.

This effort builds directly on the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, which has already prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil in recent months. Strict enforcement against vessels entering or departing Iranian ports continues.

"The establishment of Task Force Iron Gate reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea," Cooper said in a statement. "Strengthening CENTCOM’s collaboration with U.S. interagency partners will further constrain Iran’s ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish their military."

The announcement comes amid ongoing U.S. efforts to limit Tehran's support for proxy groups and its military capabilities. A recent Reuters investigation highlighted a network of over 5,000 entities tied to Iran's Ministry of Defense that had imported missile components and other equipment worth at least $2 billion since January 2025, often through front companies to evade sanctions.

CENTCOM graphics associated with the announcement identify Iran's borders with Turkey, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan as key areas of focus, along with Caspian Sea connections to Russia and Central Asia. The task force represents an internal coordination effort rather than a new field deployment.

The move expands U.S. pressure on the Iranian regime's supply chains at a time when Tehran has sought alternative routes to sustain its military and economic activities.