The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced this Saturday the establishment of a special group called Iron Gate (Task Force Iron Gate), aimed at preventing Iran from using its land borders and the Caspian Sea to transport advanced weaponry, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illicit financial resources.
The initiative escalates Washington's military and economic pressure on Tehran, which has so far been primarily focused on the naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
According to the official statement from CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of that military structure, ordered the formation of a group, composed of approximately 20 military personnel and civilians, based in Tampa, Florida.
The new unit will have coordination functions with other agencies of the U.S. government to detect and disrupt the movement of materials and resources to Iran. No new ground combat force has been announced nor have the operational mechanisms it will employ to fulfill its mission been detailed.
"The establishment of the special group Puerta de Hierro reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea," stated Cooper, who emphasized that greater cooperation among U.S. agencies will restrict Iran's ability to finance terrorist organizations, rebuild weapons factories, and resupply its military forces.
A supply network that escapes the naval blockade
The new structure aims to close one of the main gaps in the U.S. restrictions: land trade routes and those through the Caspian Sea, which continue to allow the entry of military materials and technologies despite the blockade of Iran's major ports.
A report by Reuters published at the end of October revealed that Iran has used a network of over 5,000 entities linked to its Ministry of Defense to import equipment, explosives, and trucks potentially intended for military use, worth at least 2 billion dollars since January 2025.
The investigation identified supplies from Russia, China, and other countries that arrived via vessels crossing the Caspian Sea, trucks from Central Asia, and cargo planes, among other routes.
These operations have allowed Tehran to maintain part of its military supply chains despite Western sanctions and attacks against its weapon production facilities.
According to CENTCOM, the U.S. naval blockade, in effect since July, has prevented Iran from exporting crude oil worth more than $25 billion. This estimate comes from the U.S. military command itself.
Maritime restrictions continue to be applied to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, with exceptions for humanitarian aid.
Increased pressure on Iran amid new attacks
The creation of the special group coincides with a new phase of military tension between Washington and Tehran.
On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had conducted limited strikes against an Iranian air defense system on Qeshm Island, located in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that two projectiles had struck the Suza area, initially providing no confirmed information about the damages caused.
Meanwhile, the United States offered a reward of up to 20 million dollars for information related to the Iranian nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel.
The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated on February 28, when Washington and Israel launched operation Epic Fury against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Since then, there have been attacks, trade restrictions, and diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement.
In October, Washington also sanctioned 22 vessels from the so-called Iranian ghost fleet, used to transport oil and evade international restrictions.
On November 4 and 5, Trump gathered his national security team to assess new operations against Iran, while diplomatic contacts continued to prevent a broader military escalation.
The launch of Puerta de Hierro now adds a new dimension to the U.S. strategy: to extend surveillance and interdiction measures beyond the maritime domain, towards the land routes and the Caspian Sea through which Iran continues to receive strategic supplies.
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