--- title: "Moscow and Tehran Criticize US Caspian Task Force 'Iron Gate'" description: "Moscow and Tehran have criticized the US creation of the Iron Gate task force to control routes in the Caspian Sea. Russia called the move a threat, while Iran termed it a unilateral US action." date: 2026-11-13T10:50:58.882Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/moscow-and-tehran-condemn-iron-gate-caspian-blockade tags: [iran, russia, caspian-sea, us-military, iron-gate, sanctions] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Moscow and Tehran Criticize US Caspian Task Force 'Iron Gate' ![Vladimir Putin shakes hands with an Iranian military official during an official meeting](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/moskva-i-tegeran-osudili-iron-gate-kaspiyskaya-blokada/moskva-i-tegeran-osudili-iron-gate-kaspiyskaya-blokada-1.webp) ## Key Points - On November 7, CENTCOM announced the creation of the Iron Gate task force to control routes north of Iran and in the Caspian Sea - The Russian Foreign Ministry called the move a threat to the rights of Caspian states and a violation of international law - Iran and Russia discussed measures to counter 'unilateral US actions' - ISW/CTP: Sanctioned vessels transport cargo from Astrakhan and Olya to Iranian ports while disabling AIS Amid new warnings from Tehran about a possible expansion of military confrontation, Moscow and Iran have reacted to the US decision to create a task force to control land and sea transport routes north of Iran and in the Caspian Sea basin. According to Russian and Iranian diplomats, this step effectively means expanding the blockade of the Iranian economy and shifting the confrontation to a new region. ### What is 'Iron Gate' On November 7, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the formation of the 'Iron Gate' task force. The officially stated goal of the unit is to prevent the supply of modern weapons and dual-use goods to Iran through land borders and the Caspian Sea. In a statement published on the social network X, the agency emphasized that US forces are operating around the clock to ensure freedom of commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out what it terms an 'iron naval blockade' of Iran. The US also indicated that, together with partners, it seeks to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from using land routes and the Caspian Sea basin to transport advanced weapon systems, sanctioned goods, and conduct illegal financial transactions. ### Moscow's Reaction The Russian Foreign Ministry called Washington's plans a 'clear threat' to the rights and interests of Caspian littoral states, emphasizing that security issues in the Caspian are strictly the internal affair of the five coastal countries. Official Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova regarded the creation of the group as 'another escalation and provocative step' and 'an overt encroachment on the norms of international law,' expressing full support for the Iranian authorities' statement that further economic pressure will not lead to the collapse of the Iranian economy. ### Tehran's Position Following a meeting with the Russian ambassador in Tehran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the parties discussed measures to counter 'unilateral US actions' and the Iron Gate program. Gharibabadi stated that Tehran and Moscow emphasize the need for coordination and cooperation in the face of common threats, and that maintaining stability and security in the Caspian serves the interests of the littoral states. ### How Bypass Routes Work A joint report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) notes that Iran and Russia are cooperating to counter US efforts to suppress arms supplies via the Caspian Sea and land routes. According to researchers, Iran used Caspian trade routes to import Russian weapons both before and during the 2026 US-Israeli-Iranian conflict; in July 2026, according to their information, Ukraine struck one such cargo shipment. Experts point out that the Caspian Sea lies outside the control zone of Western monitoring bodies, allowing sanctioned Russian ships to deliver cargo from the ports of Astrakhan and Olya to the Iranian ports of Anzali, Nowshahr, and Amirabad by turning off Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) when approaching the coast. Last summer, the Security Agency of Ukraine reported that long-range Ukrainian drones struck two cargo ships in the Caspian Sea which Kyiv claimed were transporting military equipment between Iran and Russia. ### Context: The North–South Corridor In recent years, Tehran and Moscow have sought not only to deepen security and military cooperation but also to expand economic and transit ties within the framework of the North–South corridor. One of the key joint projects is the completion of the Rasht–Astara railway—a missing link in the transport route connecting Russia with ports in the Persian Gulf. Western analysts assess that it is precisely these growing logistical ties that are turning the Caspian region into a zone of new strategic confrontation. ## Accounts differ ### Nature and legality of Operation Iron Gate - **US Central Command (CENTCOM):** The group was created to prevent the supply of weapons and dual-use goods to Iran and ensure freedom of commercial navigation ([ru.euronews.com](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/11/13/rurussia-and-iran-criticise-us-caspian-task-force-as-study-outlines-joint-sanction-evasion)) - **Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia:** The creation of the group is an escalation and provocative step, an encroachment on international law, and a threat to the rights of Caspian states ([ru.euronews.com](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/11/13/rurussia-and-iran-criticise-us-caspian-task-force-as-study-outlines-joint-sanction-evasion)) - **Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran:** Iron Gate is a unilateral US action requiring coordinated countermeasures ([ru.euronews.com](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/11/13/rurussia-and-iran-criticise-us-caspian-task-force-as-study-outlines-joint-sanction-evasion)) *Where they agree:* The US created the Iron Gate task force on November 7, prompting reactions from Russia and Iran ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Россия и Иран осудили новую каспийскую группировку США Iron Gate](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/11/13/rurussia-and-iran-criticise-us-caspian-task-force-as-study-outlines-joint-sanction-evasion) - Primary source: CENTCOM announcement on the Iron Gate group (November 7), statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry (M. Zakharova) and Iranian Deputy Minister K. Gharibabadi, ISW/CTP analysis on Caspian bypass routes. Facts are taken strictly from the source text; independent verification of military details was not conducted. ## FAQ ### When did the US announce the creation of the Iron Gate group? US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the formation of the Iron Gate task force on November 7, 2026. ### How did Russia react to the creation of Iron Gate? The Russian Foreign Ministry called the move a 'clear threat' to the rights of Caspian states, an escalation and provocative step, and an encroachment on international law norms. ### What is the North–South corridor in the context of the article? It is a transport route connecting Russia with Persian Gulf ports; one of its key projects is the construction of the Rasht–Astara railway.