Iran mocks Trump's Iron Gate task force as 'distraction' from midterm losses

independent.co.uk — November 9, 2026 at 11:01 AM UTC

Iran has ridiculed President Donald Trump's new military task force, Iron Gate, calling it a distraction from the Republican Party's losses in last week's US midterm elections. The task force aims to disrupt Iranian land and sea movements amid deadlocked negotiations. US Central Command announced the group on Saturday, comprising 20 personnel in Tampa, Florida, to block advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, and illegal revenue across Iran's borders and the Caspian Sea. Iranian officials dismissed the plan as ineffective, while Washington claims its naval blockade has prevented over $25bn in Iranian oil exports. The dispute follows Trump's electoral defeat, with voters blaming him for the unpopular Iran war and rising fuel costs. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry welcomed potential Chinese involvement in reducing regional tensions, as Chinese envoys push for political solutions over military action.

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