The United States military is expanding its economic pressure on Tehran. It announced the formation of a 20-member task force aimed at cutting off land routes used to bring weapons and illicit supplies into Iran.
The step builds on an ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports during an eight-month conflict between the two nations, during which Tehran also choked the vital Strait of Hormuz route.
Florida Team in Charge
Based in Florida, the new unit brings together civilian and military personnel. The group will work alongside other US government bodies to halt cross-border flows of high-end weapon systems, dual-use equipment, banned goods, and illegal cash across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.
CENTCOM revealed that its port blockade has previously stopped Iran from shipping out more than US$25 billion of crude oil, coming after Washington announced an 'economic asphyxiation' plan back in August.
“The United States will never be able to impose the economic blockade it is pursuing and proposing under various names and through different plans”Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi
Tehran Hits Back
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps strongly rejected the US strategy, claiming Washington's efforts will not succeed in wrecking the nation's economy.
Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi declared that the United States cannot break the country's ties with its neighbours and will fail to trigger an economic breakdown.
