US Moves to Choke Off Iran’s Land and Sea Supply Routes

CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper ordered the creation of Task Force Iron Gate to disrupt Iran’s weapons smuggling routes across its land borders and the Caspian Sea.

By United with Israel Staff

The United States intensified its campaign to isolate Iran on Saturday, striking a commercial vessel attempting to breach the American naval blockade while announcing a new military task force aimed at shutting down Tehran’s land-based weapons smuggling routes.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had disabled the St. Kitts-flagged cargo vessel M/V Huda in the Gulf of Oman after its crew repeatedly ignored warnings and attempted to violate the blockade.

According to CENTCOM, the vessel had visited an Iranian port and was attempting to leave regional waters when a U.S. military aircraft fired precision munitions at its stern, disabling the ship. American forces instructed the civilian crew to evacuate the targeted areas before carrying out the strike.

The operation was the latest in Washington’s ongoing efforts to enforce its naval blockade, which CENTCOM says has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil in recent months, dealing a significant financial blow to the regime.

Since July, American forces have redirected 147 commercial vessels that complied with blockade orders and disabled five merchant ships that refused to comply. CENTCOM also reported that U.S. forces had previously destroyed 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ multibillion-dollar shadow shipping network.

In a parallel move announced Saturday, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper ordered the establishment of Task Force Iron Gate, a new initiative designed to prevent Iran from circumventing maritime restrictions by transporting weapons, sensitive technology and sanctioned materials across its land borders and the Caspian Sea.

The task force, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, will consist of approximately 20 military and civilian personnel and coordinate with other U.S. government agencies to disrupt the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illicit revenue streams.

“The establishment of Task Force Iron Gate reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea,” Cooper said.

“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 initiative expands Washington’s efforts beyond the maritime blockade, targeting alternative supply routes that Tehran could exploit to replenish its military capabilities, rebuild weapons production facilities and sustain its financial networks.

Together, the naval enforcement operations and the new task force reflect an expanding American campaign to restrict Iran’s access to military supplies and revenue, with CENTCOM emphasizing that strict enforcement of the blockade remains in effect against vessels entering or departing Iranian ports.