[iOS] Image component with local assets (require) not rendering after RNN 8.5.0+ with React Native 0.78

[redwind]

What happened?

The React Native Image component with local assets using require() does not render on iOS when using react-native-navigation 8.5.0 and later with React Native 0.78.x. The same code works correctly on Android.

What was the expected behaviour?

Image should render on iOS as it does on Android.

Was it tested on latest react-native-navigation?

• I have tested this issue on the latest react-native-navigation release and it still reproduces.

Help us reproduce this issue!

1.Create a fresh RN 0.78.3 project
2.Add react-native-navigation@8.6.0 (or 8.8.2)
3.Configure RNN with RNNAppDelegate in AppDelegate.swift
4.Add an Image component with local asset:

import { Image } from 'react-native';

<Image
  source={require('./assets/image.png')}
  style={{ width: 100, height: 100 }}
/>

In what environment did this happen?

React Native: 0.78.3
react-native-navigation: 8.6.0, 8.8.2 (broken) / 8.4.3 (works)
Platform: iOS
New Architecture: Enabled (RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED=1)
Xcode: Latest
macOS: Darwin 25.4.0