Federal authorities are warning law enforcement agencies in California about intelligence suggesting Iran once considered launching a drone attack against the state.
According to the New York Post, an alert circulated by the FBI to police departments said investigators obtained information indicating Tehran may have planned a surprise strike using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from a vessel positioned off the U.S. coastline.
According to the bulletin, the potential plot would have targeted unspecified locations in California if the United States carried out military strikes against Iran.
The FBI alert stated: “We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.”
Officials stressed that investigators do not yet have additional details about the possible plan.
“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” the warning added.
Authorities did not specify what sites in California could be at risk.
The warning surfaced as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged the alert during a press conference on Wednesday, saying the potential drone threat was being taken seriously by state officials.
“Drone issues have been top of mind. We’ve been aware of that information, we’ve been working collaboratively with the [State Operations Center],” Newsom said.
He also noted he had not yet spoken directly with President Donald Trump about the matter.
“I haven’t talked to the president directly about this and I wish the president would talk to the American people about what this is all about, what’s the end game?” Newsom said.
Trump, however, appeared unconcerned when asked about the possibility of Iranian attacks on American soil.
When reporters raised the issue earlier Wednesday, he responded simply: “No, I’m not.”
A threat assessment from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis also warned that Iran and its proxies “probably” pose a risk of targeted attacks against the United States, though officials said a large-scale assault remains unlikely.
