Washington forms "Iron Gate" force to expand blockade on Iran

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the formation of a new task force called "Iron Gate," headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with about 20 civilian and military personnel. Its aim is to expand US measures on Iran from the naval blockade to monitoring land routes and the Caspian Sea, preventing the transfer of advanced weapons, dual-use technologies and sanctioned materials, and curbing illicit financial flows. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the new force reinforces the success of the tight naval blockade on Iran, noting that the blockade has prevented Tehran from exporting crude oil worth more than $25 billion in recent months.