Iran’s IRGC dismisses new US plan to tighten economic pressure as ‘wordplay’

The US cannot achieve its goals of blockading Iran’s economy and shutting its trade routes because Tehran has made preparations and communicates closely with neighbors, a Revolutionary Guards spokesperson was quoted as saying on Sunday. Hossein Mohebbi was reacting to the US military’s Task Force Iron Gate, launched to help crack down on Tehran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material over its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.

“The Iron Gate plan is merely a wordplay, the Americans cannot achieve their objectives of imposing severe economic pressure to cause economic collapse in Iran through this approach,” Mohebbi told the semi-official Fars news agency. Task Force Iron Gate will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other US government agencies. Beyond the movement of weapons, it will also focus on halting the flow of dual-use technologies used by Iran and stemming what Washington calls illegal revenue streams.

The establishment of the task force is the latest illustration of how the US is still searching for ways to increase pressure on Tehran, more than eight months after launching with Israel a war against the Islamic Republic. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms While US strikes have dealt devastating blows to Iran’s conventional military and the US naval blockade has severely restricted its crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Iran still poses a formidable threat to the region, and its rulers have tightened their grip on the country.

FILE: A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati) Iran on Saturday claimed that its forces had grown stronger and more confident, despite the months of on-off war with the US and Israel, state news agency IRNA reported. Tehran has proven resilient and gloated following US midterm election results that punished US President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, giving control of Congress to opposition Democrats.

Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war for the electoral rout, and appeared to question whether the conflict was worth it. Advertisement Mediators have intensified efforts in recent days to ​end the war between Iran and the United States ⁠amid fears it could reignite. Trump has been threatening to carry out a new offensive against Iran, putting countries in the Gulf on edge, since Tehran has threatened broad retaliation against Gulf infrastructure.

Meanwhile, US intelligence assessments in recent months have reportedly indicated that renewed strikes on Iran would not fundamentally change Tehran’s negotiating position or lead to the fall of Iran’s government. Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors. Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy; Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.

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Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel Join Our Community Join Our Community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Report: PM, Mossad chief planned Iran op just before Israeli election; it was thwarted after US was accidentally tipped off 2 President Herzog taps Eisenkot to form coalition, but path remains fraught 3 IDF West Bank chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before illegally entering Jericho homes 4 Eisenkot stands by mandatory service after Liberman opens door to ultra-Orthodox parties 5 US Central Command announces $20M reward for info on Iranian nuclear program 6 IRGC claims a self-imposed limit on ballistic missile range ‘has been lifted’ 7 ‘Unhinged’: Israel, Irish Jews slam comments by UN’s Albanese to Ireland’s parliament 8 Trump: US launched ‘minor’ strikes on Iran targeting ‘a little bit of an anti-aircraft device’ read more: Israel & the Region Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC 2026 US-Israel war with Iran Iranian economy 2026 US midterm elections Strait of Hormuz Caspian Sea Task Force Iron Gate If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community.

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