US-Iran War: What Is Trump's 'Task Force Iron Gate'? How will the land "blockade" affect Tehran and its economy? Explained

Already reeling from crippling economic conditions, Iran was dealt a major blow on Sunday when US President Donald Trump announced that “Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic”.

In a post on the PRAVDA social network, he said the Iron Gate, “linked to the largest naval blockade in history,” allows “very little to get into or out of Iran.”

What exactly is “Operation Iron Gate” and what will it do?

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the newly established task force will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies to prevent the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illicit revenue streams across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.

After Trump announced the launch of the ‘Task Force Iron Gate’ in Iran, he explained what that really means. He told reporters: “We have Operation Iron Gate which has just come into effect.”

He claimed the move had successfully choked off virtually all inbound and outbound trade for the Islamic Republic.

“That means nothing comes by land, and as you know with a naval blockade, nothing comes by water,” he added.

Trump said the U.S. is trying to end the war with Iran and “we’re doing a good job because all we have to do is choke it, so we have it blocked very well.”

Meanwhile, US Central Command said the “Task Force” was launched “to disrupt Iranian ground transit routes supporting illegal shipments”.

“On November 7, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) directed the establishment of a task force to support the US government’s continued efforts to prevent Iran from using land routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials,” US CENTCOM said.

What does the US want to achieve?

The establishment of the task force is the latest illustration of how the US is still looking for ways to increase pressure on Tehran, more than eight months after Israel launched a war against the Islamic Republic, Reuters reports.

In addition to imposing arms restrictions, the “Task Force” will also focus on stemming the flow of dual-use technologies used by Iran and halting what Washington calls illicit revenue streams.

Read also | Iran war: IOC to buy oil, LPG carriers amid Hormuz disturbances

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

“Strengthening CENTCOM’s cooperation with U.S. interagency partners will further limit Iran’s ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish its military,” he said.

Who Makes Up the ‘Iron Gate Task Force’?

CENTCOM said that “Task Force Iron Gate” created at the direction of dm. Brad Cooper, has “an internal staff of approximately 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida.”

What prompted the US action?

A Reuters investigation has found that Iran has created a secret network of military agencies to import at least $2 billion worth of hardware, explosives and heavy trucks from January 2025, evading both the US naval blockade and Western sanctions.

The material entered Iran by cargo ship across the Caspian Sea from Russia, by truck from Central Asia and by cargo plane from China, a Reuters investigation showed.

Losing $25 billion: The impact of the blockade on Iran’s economy

The US has imposed a naval blockade and maritime restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route, targeting Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The blockade has severely limited Iran’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea.

CENTCOM claimed that in recent months “the U.S. naval blockade has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion worth of oil.” It said: “Strict maritime enforcement continues against all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.”

The naval blockade was initially imposed on 13 April 2026. As the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February 2026, Tehran sought the upper hand by striking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to block energy exports from the Persian Gulf, while US forces began blocking movements to and from Iranian ports in April.

As part of the blockade, US forces actively targeted and disabled cargo ships attempting to breach the restrictions.

Highlighting Iran’s spiraling economy, Trump said: “They don’t pay their soldiers; they don’t pay their guards. They have 301 percent inflation. They don’t have money, they’re not doing well, and at some point they’re going to be smart.”

“I can go in and blow them up right now. The problem is, you’re never going to be able to rebuild it. If I blow up the bridges…it would take 10-12-15 years to rebuild…it would put an awful lot of strain on the swamps,” Trump said.

The campaign, first reported by Reuters on Saturday, will target Tehran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material across its land borders and across the Caspian Sea.

Iran’s nuclear proposal

Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday, adding that the US was reviewing it but that discussions would depend on Washington first meeting Tehran’s seven demands.

These include sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and war reparations, while Washington says nuclear issues must be part of the opening talks.

Air Force spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi outlined three strategic pillars driving the force’s rapid expansion during the commemoration: domestic scientific localization, domestic industrial mass production and absolute self-sufficiency.

Mohebbi argued that domestic technological breakthroughs allowed Tehran to meet its internal military requirements while supplying advanced equipment to international markets, citing the home-grown Arman missile, the 358 hover drone and the Khordad-3 surface-to-air missile defense system.

“This development served as a catalyst for sweeping changes… transforming us from an importer of military weapons to an exporter in the aerospace sector,” Mohebbi said, according to Mehr News Agency.

The development highlights conflicting positions, with CENTCOM announcing measures to restrict the movement of Iranian military materials and the IRGC’s air force publicly emphasizing its domestic manufacturing capabilities and defense exports.

(With input from agencies)