Iran vows global retaliation as US weighs new attack after midterms

Iran has vowed retaliation without geographical limits against U.S. financial assets, as President Donald Trump considers a new attack following Tuesday's midterm elections, escalating the U.S.-Iran war with potentially widespread damage. The U.S. has deployed a third aircraft carrier and Marine unit to the Middle East, preparing allies for intense fighting. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei warned Iran's response would target "all kinds of financial and non-financial assets," including undersea cables and data centers, signaling a shift toward offensive strategy. Experts warn another conflict round could devastate Gulf energy infrastructure, already weakened by eight months of war, with depleted U.S. interceptors and Iranian missiles evading defenses. Diplomacy remains stalled, and analysts suggest a naval blockade, not new attacks, as the least damaging option.