Japanese media editors tracked Iran's Revolutionary Guard declaring that vessels must obtain Iranian permission to transit the Hormuz Strait, with unauthorized ships becoming targets for attack. This development followed earlier reports of the continued de facto blockade, with multiple outlets detailing long-term disruption concerns and their failure to halt rising crude oil prices despite the IEA's coordinated 400-million-barrel oil reserve release. Coverage continued on Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's first statement calling for continued blockade and attacks on U.S. bases in neighboring countries. Economic consequences included Honda projecting its first annual deficit since listing due to EV development suspension, while the Nikkei average fell over 900 yen and the yen weakened to 159 against the dollar amid U.S. Section 301 trade investigations targeting Japan.
