US Forms ‘Iron Gate’ Task Force to Block Iran’s Overland Trade

The United States has adopted a new strategy to intensify economic pressure on Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) has established a new task force named ‘Iron Gate’ to identify land routes used for transporting weapons and sanctioned goods. Through this initiative, Washington aims to weaken Iran’s economic capabilities and diminish its capacity to sustain military conflict, according to former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy in an interview with Al Jazeera.

According to Mr. Mulroy, who previously oversaw Middle East affairs, the task force aims to expand the scope of the US economic pressure strategy against Iran.
Mulroy stated that CENTCOM will coordinate with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other intelligence agencies. The primary objectives of the task force are to identify entry routes for weapons systems into Iran, determine methods to block these supplies, and track overland fuel shipments. He added that if US President Donald Trump orders an escalation, these identified supply sites could become potential targets for military strikes.

Mr. Mulroy noted a key distinction between ‘Operation Epic Fury’ and the new plan. While the previous operation focused mainly on military targets, the updated framework considers economic and infrastructure facilities as potential targets.

The goal of this plan is to cut off the Iranian government’s capacity to continue fighting while blocking its financial revenue streams. Mulroy previously served as a CIA paramilitary operations officer.
According to Mr. Mulroy, Task Force Iron Gate is being developed as a ‘Combatant Command.’ This suggests that preparing for potential conflict escalation or launching new military operations is a key objective of the initiative.
Under this plan, Iranian military facilities, economy, fuel transit systems, and critical infrastructure could become potential targets. However, Mulroy did not confirm whether President Trump has issued any orders for new strikes.

Source: Al Jazeera