US forms 20-member task force to cut Iran's land weapons supply routes

The US military announced it will create a 20-member task force to disrupt land routes into Iran used for weapons and illicit materials shipments, expanding on its naval blockade during the eight-month US-Iran war. The task force, comprising civilian and military personnel based in Florida, will coordinate with US government agencies to prevent movement of advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue across Iran's land borders and Caspian Sea. Central Command chief Brad Cooper said it will constrain Iran's ability to finance terrorism and rebuild military capabilities. The naval blockade, imposed early in the war after Iran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, has halted around $25 billion in crude oil exports. Iran's actions have also choked global energy supplies through the critical trade route.