US Moves to Tighten Iran Blockade, Launches New Task Force to Disrupt Weapons Shipments

Reuters reported on Sunday that the United States is considering additional measures to tighten its economic blockade of Iran, as Washington seeks new ways to increase pressure on Tehran. Several proposals are reportedly under review, including efforts to disrupt Iranian weapons shipments, restrict access to critical technologies, and target illicit revenue streams.

Responding to the report, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed the American initiative. “The United States will not be able to achieve its goal of imposing an economic blockade or severing Tehran’s ties with its neighbors. It is nothing more than wordplay,” the spokesperson declared.

US Deploys Additional Naval Forces to the Region

Meanwhile, reports indicated that the American amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, accompanied by other vessels in its strike group, had departed the Japanese port of Yokosuka and was heading toward the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group is a combined U.S. Navy and Marine Corps force centered on an amphibious assault ship capable of carrying helicopters and fighter aircraft. It includes the amphibious transport dock ships USS Anchorage (LPD-23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26), along with Amphibious Squadron 7 (PHIBRON 7) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU), which incorporates ground combat, aviation, and logistics forces.

The group is equipped to conduct amphibious landings, respond to regional crises, provide maritime security, maintain sea control, and project military power through its embarked Marines, helicopters, and tiltrotor aircraft.

New Task Force to Disrupt Iranian Weapons Shipments

As part of its broader efforts to tighten restrictions on Iran, the U.S. military announced the establishment of a new task force aimed at disrupting the movement of advanced weapons and other materials authorized by Tehran across its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.

The task force, named Iron Gate, will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies. In addition to intercepting weapons shipments, it will focus on preventing the transfer of dual-use technologies that could support Iran’s military capabilities and disrupting what Washington describes as illicit revenue streams.

The initiative represents the latest American effort to increase pressure on Tehran more than eight months after the United States and Israel launched a war against the Islamic Republic.

According to Reuters, American military strikes have severely weakened Iran’s conventional armed forces, while the U.S. naval blockade has significantly restricted its crude oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. Nevertheless, the report indicates that Iran continues to pose a regional security threat, while its leadership has tightened its grip on power.

Reuters Investigation Uncovers $2 Billion Iranian Supply Network

A Reuters investigation revealed that Iran had established a covert network of military procurement agencies that imported at least $2 billion worth of equipment, explosives, and heavy trucks since January 2025, circumventing both the American naval blockade and Western sanctions.

According to the investigation, the materials reached Iran through several routes, including cargo vessels crossing the Caspian Sea from Russia, trucks arriving from Central Asia, and cargo aircraft traveling from China. The findings highlight the challenges Washington faces in restricting Iran’s access to military supplies despite existing sanctions and maritime enforcement measures.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that the new task force would coordinate its operations with other federal agencies. An American military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the effort was expected to involve the Treasury, State, and Justice Departments, as well as the U.S. intelligence community.

The latest measures reflect Washington’s continuing efforts to expand economic and military pressure on Iran while targeting the international supply networks that have enabled Tehran to obtain equipment and resources despite extensive restrictions.