Reuters: U.S. military prepares task force to restrict Iran’s land and Caspian Sea transportation

(Central News Agency, Washington, 7th Comprehensive Foreign News Report) Reuters exclusively reported that after months of imposing a naval blockade on Iran, the U.S. military is forming a task force to further restrict Iran’s transportation of advanced weapons systems and other sanctioned materials through its land border and the Caspian Sea.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) will announce the formation of the task force later today, according to a statement reviewed by Reuters ahead of its release, which has not been previously reported.

The unit, called Task Force Iron Gate, will be based in Tampa, Florida and work with other U.S. government agencies. In addition to weapons transportation, the unit will also target dual-use materials and illegal sources of income.

"Strengthening Central Command's collaboration with U.S. government interagency partners will further limit Iran's ability to fund terrorism, rebuild its weapons factories, and replenish its military capabilities," Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement.

U.S. Central Command estimates that the naval blockade has prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion worth of crude oil.