Iranian naval commander warns of heightened deterrence as US forms Task Force Iron Gate

Rear Admiral Mohsen Razzaqi, commander of Iran’s Northern Fleet, told a ceremony in Astara that the coordination among Iran’s armed forces is at its highest level and that naval units are ready to defend the country’s maritime borders around the clock. He emphasized that personnel are the most valuable asset of the navy and said missile, drone and commando units maintain a continuous presence in Iranian waters.

"The cost of any aggression against Iran must be raised to such an extent that the enemy will no longer dare attack the country again," Razzaqi said, as reported by IRNA.

He added that Iran’s strategy seeks to impose prohibitive costs on any aggressor, citing the nation’s missile and drone capabilities, its geographic position and public resolve as key deterrent factors. The remarks follow similar statements from other Iranian officials, including a post on X by the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, warning of a “devastating response” to any war.

In response, U.S. Central Command announced the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, led by CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper. Based in Tampa, Florida, the roughly 20-person team will work with other U.S. agencies to disrupt the movement of advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, sanctioned items and illicit revenue across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.