The head of Japan's largest shipping company, NYK Line, believes normalization in the Strait of Hormuz is proving more complex than expected. Takaya Soga stated shipping volumes may remain significantly below prewar levels for an extended period. This is due to IRGC-laid mines forcing ships into narrow, safer passages near Iran and Oman. Soga emphasized that navigation routes are severely restricted, far from pre-closure conditions. This warning follows reports of 80 naval mines being laid by IRGC forces. Tanker transits have resumed, but likely do not reflect the full picture as some vessels are not tracked. IRGC forces previously mandated commercial vessels coordinate with their navy for Hormuz transits. This was followed by an attack on a container ship and retaliatory strikes. A tanker's bridge was also damaged by an unknown projectile. Regional tensions are escalating, with actions extending into Iraq.