Iran's economic crisis is deepening as a US naval blockade, wartime damage and disrupted trade routes affect its industry, while the threat of renewed war with America piles pressure on an already severe downturn. The war has weighed heavily on Tuesday’s US midterm elections, with the Democrats taking control of Congress. The cost for Iran is mounting too, with official figures showing gross domestic product down more than 10 per cent year-on-year in the latest quarter.