US push to tighten Iran blockade meets resistance from Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan

The United States is facing significant obstacles in its efforts to tighten the economic blockade of Iran. Just days after Washington officially announced the establishment of Task Force Iron Gate, expanding its maritime restrictions on the Islamic Republic to its land borders, The New York Times reported Wednesday night that American efforts to shut down overland trade routes are meeting resistance. According to the report, several of Iran's neighbors are expressing suspicion and frustration over a U.S. policy they fear could harm their own interests.

The first step in Washington's campaign to intensify economic pressure on Iran was a naval blockade of its ports, cutting off Iranian trade by sea. That was followed by a new wave of sanctions that, among other things, disrupted much of Iran's aviation sector. According to one U.S. official and three Iraqi officials, Washington has spent weeks trying to exert diplomatic pressure on Iran's neighbors to close their border crossings. All four officials said those efforts have failed.

Iran's neighboring countries, particularly Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan, have expressed frustration at the prospect of closing their borders with the Islamic Republic, citing concerns about economic damage as well as social and political consequences. The announcement establishing Task Force Iron Gate stated that its mission would include preventing the movement of "advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illegal revenue streams" across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.

Former senior U.S. military officials suggested that the initiative was likely designed to leverage the intelligence capabilities and resources of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). They said the command could help better focus and organize efforts that had previously suffered from insufficient coordination among diplomats, anti-money laundering units and intelligence agencies, strengthening oversight of overland trade routes. Iraq faces particularly serious risks For Iraq, one of Iran's largest cross-border trading partners, the latest U.S. initiative could be particularly dangerous.

Officials in Baghdad fear unrest among smuggling networks and militias operating along the countries' mountainous, 1,600-kilometer (994-mile) border, which Iraqi authorities cannot fully control. Washington has long been aware that Iran uses its porous border with Iraq to smuggle weapons and money to allied militias operating in the country. Iraq also depends on Iran for more than one-third of its natural gas supply, which is used to generate electricity.

When Tehran has cut off those supplies in recent years, often because U.S. sanctions made it difficult for Baghdad to pay, the result has been widespread power outages and street protests. Pakistan, whose official annual trade with Iran totals approximately $3 billion, appears to have adopted an approach similar to Iraq's, according to analysts. It has opened and closed some of its border crossings with Iran in recent weeks. Pakistani officials said the recent closures were prompted by security concerns or the implementation of new electronic import procedures.

Iranian officials, however, claimed the measures were linked to U.S. sanctions against their country. Analysts and diplomats say Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan have so far been the primary focus of Washington's efforts. Turkey has largely refused to change its border policies, while Iraq is struggling to satisfy both sides. Iraq's leadership has held weekly talks with American diplomats, including regional envoy Tom Barrack. According to Iraqi officials, Washington asked Baghdad to close all but two of its border crossings with Iran.

Iraq has so far refused, although it temporarily closed one or two crossings as a gesture toward U.S. demands. The U.S. official familiar with the talks said many neighboring countries had expressed fears of a "civil revolt" if they cut off smuggling and trade routes that are essential to businesses and communities on both sides of the border. The official added that Washington's latest efforts are generating resentment among its regional allies.

Many of those countries were already frustrated with the United States for ignoring their pleas not to go to war alongside Israel against Iran in February, a conflict that imposed economic costs and caused physical destruction in their territories. Iran, meanwhile, is moving quickly to apply pressure of its own, demanding that neighboring countries reject Washington's requests. "We, too, are continuing our efforts with neighboring countries and holding discussions with them," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said last month in a speech criticizing U.S. attempts to pressure countries into halting trade with Iran.

Tehran also benefits from the presence of powerful regional and international players, including China and Russia, that remain willing to cooperate with it.