Washington is extending its pressure on Iranian military supplies beyond a naval blockade, with President Donald Trump saying Sunday that a new U.S. task force had taken effect.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, ordered the formation of Task Force Iron Gate on Nov. 7. Based in Tampa, Florida, the team has about 20 civilian and military personnel and will work with other U.S. agencies.
The team is intended to disrupt transfers of advanced weapons, technology with civilian and military uses, and sanctioned materials along Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea. Its remit also includes revenue flows CENTCOM characterizes as illegal.
Trump called the effort “Operation Iron Gate” on Nov. 8 and asserted that “nothing comes in by land.” CENTCOM’s stated mandate covers specified goods and revenue flows; its announcement did not report a halt to all trade across Iran’s land borders.
Cooper said the task force aims to limit resources Iran could use to finance terrorism, restore weapons production and resupply its military. CENTCOM put the value of Iranian crude exports it says its naval blockade has blocked in recent months at more than $25 billion.
Trump also said he thought one meeting on his trip to China next week might bring together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and himself. His remarks described an expected meeting, not an agreed schedule.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced that the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18-19 in Shenzhen. The announcement sets the summit dates but does not confirm a meeting involving all three leaders.
