US-Iran war: What is Trump's ‘Task Force Iron Gate’? How will land ‘blockade’ impact Tehran, its economy? Explained

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump revealed the activation of "Task Force Iron Gate" targeting Iran. According to Trump, this new initiative, paired with the US naval blockade, restricts nearly all trade entering or leaving Iran. The Task Force will prevent weapons, dual-use technologies, and illegal revenue streams from crossing Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.

Trump claimed the move has crippled Iran's economy, with 301% inflation and no funds for its soldiers or infrastructure. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) explained that the task force was established to disrupt Iranian ground transit routes supporting illegal shipments. The new task force, led by dm. Brad Cooper, has approximately 20 personnel and aims to halt Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish its military.

Iran has been importing military hardware, explosives, and heavy-duty trucks through a secret network since January 2025, often evading the US naval blockade and Western sanctions. The US has imposed a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, severely restricting Iran's crude oil exports. Despite the blockade, Iran has continued to attack vessels in the region, while US forces have actively targeted and disabled cargo ships attempting to breach the restrictions.

Iran has proposed a nuclear deal to the US, which includes sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and war reparations. However, the US insists that nuclear issues must be addressed in initial talks. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has expanded rapidly, focusing on indigenous scientific localization, domestic industrial mass-production, and self-sufficiency.