'Iron Gate': Washington Landlocks Iran
Press coverage 2 newspapers covered this event: Al-Jarida · Al-Nahar →US Announces Formation of Special Task Force to Impose Land Blockade on Iran, as Iraqi Foreign Minister Reveals Request to Close Borders, and The Guardian Discloses Qatari Proposal to Ease Naval Blockade in Exchange for Return of Nuclear Inspectors.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Washington – Agencies: The United States has escalated its pressure on Iran to a new level by announcing the formation of a special task force to enforce a land blockade and cut off supply routes to Tehran via the Caspian Sea, while the British newspaper The Guardian revealed details of a Qatari proposal to end the war. (See page 12).
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its commander, Brad Cooper, issued directives to establish Task Force Iron Gate, a team of approximately 20 civilian and military personnel working in coordination with U.S. government agencies to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue flows across Iran’s land borders and through the Caspian Sea.
In this context, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fawzi Hussein revealed in statements to Qatar’s Al Jazeera channel yesterday that the United States has requested Baghdad to close most of its border crossings with Iran.
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Doha has put forward a proposal to ease the naval blockade imposed on Iran in exchange for allowing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to return to Iranian nuclear facilities that were targeted in airstrikes. The proposed vision indicates that Iran would not be required in the initial phase to completely relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium; rather, the degree of enrichment could be discussed, providing a diplomatic off-ramp for both sides.
The initiative calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the second day of the agreement’s implementation, according to a maritime route to be agreed upon with the Sultanate of Oman, and then submitted to the International Maritime Organization for approval. However, The Guardian noted disagreements on several files, including sanctions, the U.S. military presence near Iranian coasts, compensation, and Iranian demands related to halting the war in Lebanon.
