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Expanding on naval blockade, US military looks to restrict Iranian land commerce
By Phil Stewart
Nov 7, 2026
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Trucks wait to cross into Iran, after Pakistan sealed its border with Iran as a preventive measure following the coronavirus outbreak, at the border post in Taftan — Naseer Ahmed
(Adds dropped word in paragraph 12)
By Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Building on a months-long naval blockade on Iran, the US military said on Saturday it is launching a task force to help crack down on Tehran's movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material over its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.
Task Force Iron Gate, which was first reported by Reuters, will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other US government agencies. Beyond movement of weapons, it will also focus on halting the flow of dual-use technologies used by Iran and stemming what Washington calls illegal revenue streams.
The establishment of the task force is the latest illustration of how the US is still searching for ways to increase pressure on Tehran, more than eight months after launching with Israel a war against the Islamic Republic.
While US strikes have dealt devastating blows to Iran's conventional military and the US naval blockade has severely restricted its crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Iran still poses a formidable threat to the region and its rulers have tightened their grip on the country.
IRAN'S SECRET NETWORK
A Reuters investigation found Iran has created a secret network of military agencies to import at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives and heavy-duty trucks since January 2025, evading both the US naval blockade and Western sanctions.