On Monday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly shot down a US MQ-9 drone using air defense missiles over the Strait of Hormuz. According to Mehr news agency, the drone crashed into the waters of the Gulf following the strike.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global energy shipments. The US drone was operating near the area when it was targeted by the IRGC.
For Japanese markets, this development underscores the volatility in Middle Eastern geopolitics, which can influence crude oil prices and global supply chains, factors closely watched by investors and traders in FX, equities, and commodities.