The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned U.S. law-enforcement agencies about the possibility that Iran could launch drone attacks targeting the west coast of the United States, particularly in California.
According to a security alert circulated to police departments, Iranian actors may attempt a surprise strike using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel near U.S. coastal waters. The warning stated that the potential targets could include unspecified locations along the California coastline.
The alert comes amid escalating tensions after the United States and Israel conducted military strikes against Iran nearly two weeks ago, triggering retaliatory actions by Tehran in the region. Those attacks reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials.
Despite the warning, Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday he was not concerned that Iran would escalate retaliation by launching attacks on U.S. territory.
Intelligence Assessment
The FBI noted that since early February 2026, Iran had allegedly considered carrying out a drone attack from a ship positioned near U.S. shores if Washington launched strikes against Tehran. However, the bureau said it does not currently have additional details regarding the timing, methods, targets, or perpetrators of such a potential attack.
Officials from the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as the offices of the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the warning.
A separate threat assessment prepared by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis within the United States Department of Homeland Security concluded that Iran and its allies likely pose a threat of targeted attacks against the United States, though a large-scale physical assault on American territory is still considered unlikely.
