CENTCOM Establishes Special Task Force to Disrupt Iran's Land Routes That Support Illicit Shipments TAMPA, Florida - On November 7, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) ordered the creation of a task force to support the US administration's ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from using land routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials. Admiral Brad Cooper ordered the establishment of the "Task Force Iron Gate"; The group is a local headquarters of about 20 military and civilian personnel that will be based in Tampa, Florida. The new CENTCOM team will coordinate with other US government agencies to prevent the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, protected materials and illegal sources of income through Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. Cooper said: "Establishing the Iron Gate task force reinforces the success of our iron blockade against Iran at sea. "Strengthening CENTCOM's cooperation with US interagency partnerships will further limit Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild its weapons factories, and modernize its military forces." In recent months, the American naval blockade prevented the export of Iranian crude oil worth more than 25 billion dollars. Strict enforcement continues at sea against all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.

CENTCOM Establishes Special Task Force to Disrupt Iran's Land Routes That Support Illicit Shipments TAMPA, Florida - On November 7, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) ordered the creation of a task force to support the US administration's ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from using land routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials. Admiral Brad Cooper ordered the establishment of the "Task Force Iron Gate"; The group is a local headquarters of about 20 military and civilian personnel that will be based in Tampa, Florida. The new CENTCOM team will coordinate with other US government agencies to prevent the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, protected materials and illegal sources of income through Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. Cooper said: "Establishing the Iron Gate task force reinforces the success of our iron blockade against Iran at sea. "Strengthening CENTCOM's cooperation with US interagency partnerships will further limit Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild its weapons factories, and modernize its military forces." In recent months, the American naval blockade prevented the export of Iranian crude oil worth more than 25 billion dollars. Strict enforcement continues at sea against all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.