After a months-long naval blockade of Iran, the United States armed forces are creating a task force to bolster Washington’s efforts to restrict Tehran’s transport of advanced weapons systems and other sanctioned materials across its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.
The announcement of the task force will be made this Saturday (the 7th) by U.S. Central Command, according to a statement Reuters had access to prior to its release.
The Iron Gate Task Force, as it will be named, will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will operate in coordination with other U.S. government agencies. In addition to the transport of weapons, it will also focus on illicit revenue flows.
“Strengthening the Central Command’s collaboration with interagency partners will further restrict Iran’s ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and resupply its armed forces,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command, in a statement.
Central Command estimated that its naval blockade prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil.
