Blog

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned law enforcement agencies in California that Iran is considering launching a drone attack on the United States (US) West Coast in response to American military action, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News.

The bulletin, circulated to police departments toward the end of February, said that the information suggested Iran had explored the possibility of carrying out a strike using unmanned aerial vehicles from a vessel positioned off the United States coastline.

 “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” the notice said.

The warning came as the administration of US President Donald Trump launched military strikes against Iran. Tehran has since responded with drone attacks targeting sites across the Middle East.

According to a senior law enforcement official cited by ABC News, the intelligence about the possible West Coast attack was obtained before the United States and Israel began bombing Iran. The official said the 12-day bombardment is believed to have reduced Iran’s ability to carry out such an operation.

US intelligence agencies have also been monitoring the growing use of drones by Mexican drug cartels and the risk that the technology could be used against American forces or law enforcement personnel near the US-Mexico border.

A separate bulletin from September 2025 reviewed by ABC News said: “An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against US law enforcement and US military personnel along the US-Mexico border.”

The notice added: “This type of attack against US personnel or interests inside the United States would be unprecedented but exemplifies a plausible scenario, although (cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or responses from US authorities.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said the state was coordinating with security agencies in response to the threat environment.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said it had increased preparedness in light of developments abroad

“Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the Department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the County,” the department said.

ABC News contributor John Cohen, former head of intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security, said authorities should remain alert to the possibility of drone threats approaching the United States from both the Pacific Ocean and Mexico.

“We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks,” Cohen said.
The FBI alert has also sparked diverse reactions online, with some questioning its credibility. One user commented: “Another False Flag from Zionist master of US Government.” 

Another said: “This is such bullshit. If there is an attack it will be a false flag. Ironically, this comes JUST as US firms finished replicating Iranian drones. What a coincidence. Our Gov is a criminal enterprise taking orders from Israel.”

Some social media users suggested intelligence might be misrepresented or used politically. One post read: “In other words, the FBI is going to launch offensive drones against the west coast and tell us it’s Iran.” 

Another questioned the source: “You mean Mossad? We won’t believe this is Iran, we are voting out all AIPAC politicians, this has to end!” Others expressed frustration over repeated warnings of false flags. “False flags, an old trick the Zionists keep going back to under pressure,” wrote one user, while another added, “In the entire human history of false flags this flag is the falsest.”

The FBI alert did not outline how vessels carrying drones could approach close enough to the US mainland to launch an attack, though intelligence officials have previously raised concerns about equipment being positioned in advance on ships at sea or on land in case the United States or Israel targeted Iran.

Motorists worldwide are facing higher fuel prices following the illegal war imposed by United States (US) and Israel on Iran. 

In the US, the average price for a gallon of regular petrol rose from $2.94 in February to $3.58, according to data from AAA Fuel Prices. Some states have reported prices above $4 per gallon, with California exceeding $5 per gallon for the first time in more than two years.

Data from Global Petrol Prices shows that at least 85 countries have raised petrol prices since the initial attacks on Iran on February 28. Some nations announce changes only at the end of the month, suggesting further increases in April.

Vietnam recorded the largest rise, nearly 50 percent, from $0.75 per litre of 95-octane on February 23 to $1.13 on March 9. Laos saw a 33 percent increase, Cambodia 19 percent, Australia 18 percent, and the US 17 percent.

Asian countries are among the most affected due to their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, the main passage connecting the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Japan imports 95 percent of its oil from the Gulf, while South Korea imports 70 percent.

Japan instructed its oil reserve sites to prepare for a possible release of strategic reserves on March 8. South Korea introduced a maximum price cap on petrol and diesel on March 9 for the first time in 30 years.

In South Asia, countries with smaller financial buffers and limited reserves are feeling the impact more severely. Bangladesh has ordered all public and private universities to close.

In Pakistan, government offices are operating a four-day workweek, schools are closed, and a 50 percent work-from-home policy has been implemented.

In Europe, Group of Seven finance ministers held an emergency meeting on rising prices. French President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of releasing 20-30 percent of emergency strategic reserves to ease pressure on consumers.

Rising oil prices are also driving up food costs, affecting fertilisers, transportation, and logistics. Economist David McWilliams told Al Jazeera, “The lifeblood of the global economy is transport. It’s getting stuff from A to B – it’s a logistics problem, a supply chain problem, and ultimately transportation is the energy of the global economy.”

Economists warn of stagflation, increasing inflation and rising unemployment, pointing to past oil shocks in 1973, 1978 and 2008 that were followed by global recessions. In lower-income countries, higher oil prices could quickly lead to food shortages as populations spend a larger share of income on essentials.

The war involving Iran has pushed demand for weapons systems used by the United States (US) military, placing major defence contractors at the centre of production and supply chains linked to the conflict.

Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that US companies dominate the global defence industry, accounting for $334 billion of the $679 billion generated by the world’s top 100 defence firms in 2024. The United States hosts 39 companies on SIPRI’s list of the top 100 defence contractors, compared with eight from China.

The largest US defence contractors include Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and Boeing. These firms manufacture aircraft, missile systems, space technology and other military equipment used by the US armed forces.

Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defence contractor, generated $68.4bn in revenue in 2024. The company produces systems including the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, F-22 Raptor jets, THAAD missile defence systems, M142 HIMARS launchers, MGM-140 ATACMS missiles and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).

RTX, created through a 2020 merger between Raytheon and United Technologies, reported $43.6bn in defence revenue in 2024. Its Raytheon division manufactures Tomahawk cruise missiles and MIM-104 Patriot missile systems used in missile defence.

Northrop Grumman reported $37.9bn in defence revenue in 2024 and produces systems including B-2 stealth bombers and radar technology used in E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft.

General Dynamics reported $33.6bn in defence revenue in 2024 and develops nuclear submarines, battle tanks and armoured vehicles.

Boeing, founded in 1916, reported $30.6bn in defence revenue in 2024 and manufactures aircraft and military systems including the B-1 bomber, F-15 fighter jets, EA-18G Growler aircraft, P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and RC-135 reconnaissance platforms.

According to SIPRI, global defence spending increased by 9.4 percent in 2024 to $2.7 trillion. NATO members have also pledged to raise defence spending from 2 percent to 5 percent of their gross domestic product by 2035.

The expansion in military spending has coincided with the escalation of the war involving Iran. The United States has already spent billions of dollars on weapons linked to the conflict.

US President Donald Trump met the chief executives of major defence companies at the White House. Executives from RTX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, L3Harris Missile Solutions and Honeywell Aerospace attended the meeting.

Following the meeting, the companies agreed to “quadruple production” of what Trump described as “exquisite class” weaponry.

The United States already allocates close to $1 trillion to military spending in 2025, exceeding the combined total of the next nine countries. Trump has proposed increasing this spending to $1.5 trillion by 2027.

Stock prices of major defence companies have also risen during the conflict. Shares of Northrop Grumman increased by five percent, RTX rose by 4.5 percent and Lockheed Martin gained three percent during the past week.

The United States military has deployed multiple weapons systems in operations targeting Iranian facilities. According to US Central Command, Operation Epic Fury has involved more than 20 weapons systems across air, land, sea and missile defence operations.