US sets up Task Force Iron Gate to extend its Iran blockade to land routes
CENTCOM also disabled another commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman, the 11th since the naval blockade began in July.
- Blockade began: July 2026
- Ships disabled: 11
- Task force: ~20 people, based in Tampa
What CENTCOM announced
US Central Command created Task Force Iron Gate on 7 November, a roughly 20-person unit in Tampa that will target overland and Caspian trade routes not covered by the maritime blockade. Admiral Brad Cooper made the decision.
On Saturday US forces disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and tried to run the blockade.
The wider picture
CENTCOM says the blockade has stopped Iran from exporting more than $25 billion of crude in recent months, a figure that has not been independently verified.
CBS reports the move comes amid a diplomatic push to avoid a new round of major fighting, with Qatar working on a possible deal.
