US Expands Iran Blockade: New Task Force Targets Land Supply Routes

The United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced a new initiative to disrupt Iran’s land-based supply routes, augmenting its existing naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. This expansion, revealed on Saturday, involves the establishment of a dedicated task force aimed at preventing Iran from utilizing ground routes for the transport of advanced weaponry and other critical materials.

Dubbed Task Force Iron Gate, the unit will operate from Tampa, Florida, and is designed to bolster the effectiveness of the naval blockade. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the task force will collaborate with various US government agencies to interdict the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illicit revenue streams across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.

Michael Mulroy, a former US deputy assistant defence secretary for the Middle East, explained that Task Force Iron Gate's primary objective will be to identify incoming weapons systems, determine methods for their interception, and track Iran's energy transportation networks. Mulroy suggested that in the event of an escalation ordered by US President Donald Trump, potential targets would likely include this network of economic and infrastructure assets, rather than solely military objectives, as part of a broader strategy to impede the Iranian regime's capacity to wage war and fund its operations.

In a separate development on Saturday, CENTCOM reported disabling a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman as part of its ongoing blockade operations. A US military aircraft reportedly fired precision munitions at the M/V Huda, a St. Kitts-flagged vessel, after its crew was directed to abandon targeted areas. CENTCOM indicated that enforcement actions since July have led to the redirection of 147 commercial vessels that complied with directives, while five merchant ships that refused to comply were disabled.

Meanwhile, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported hearing two explosions on Qeshm Island, situated in the Strait of Hormuz, on Saturday. IRNA also documented sounds of “several explosions” in the cities of Jask, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas. President Trump had previously confirmed new strikes on Qeshm Island, describing them as minor, and noted that Tehran remains open to a deal amidst ongoing Qatari-mediated talks. Additionally, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that two oil tankers sustained significant damage after striking sea mines near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iranian state television, citing the navy, stated that the tankers were transiting an “unsafe” section of the strait with their navigation systems deactivated.