U.S.
Central Command created Task Force Iron Gate on November 7, 2026, a 20-person
team in Tampa working with agencies to disrupt Iran's movement of weapons,
sanctioned goods, and illegal funds across land borders and the Caspian Sea.
This builds
on a months-long naval blockade that has blocked over $25 billion in Iranian
oil exports, exempting humanitarian aid.
Adm. Cooper called it an 'ironclad' expansion to limit Iran's ability to fund terrorism and rebuild its military, closing gaps without direct confrontation.