Trending Now - Newsom Calms Californians: No Urgent Danger From Iran
WHO:
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated, "We've been aware of that information. ... It's all about a posture of preparedness for worst-case scenarios."
President Trump said, "It's being investigated," when asked about the FBI memo.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
FBI's Los Angeles office
Samantha Vinograd, CBS News contributor and former Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat protection
Jeff Harp, former FBI special agent
Los Angeles Police Department
WHAT:
The FBI memo indicated that it had "no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack."
Newsom's office confirmed that the memo was "one of numerous security updates the state receives from federal partners daily."
The FBI memo indicated that the information about a potential Iranian drone attack was based on "unverified" claims that surfaced prior to the Iranian conflict.
The memo stated that the FBI received information as of early February 2026 regarding Iran's alleged aspirations for a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States.
President Trump stated, "It’s being investigated," when asked about the FBI memo.
An FBI memo warned of a potential Iranian drone attack on California.
The memo indicated that Iran "allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)" against unspecified targets in California.
The warning was issued following the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran.
Governor Newsom stated, "While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state."
The Los Angeles Police Department reported, "At this time, there are no known or specific threats to Los Angeles."
Newsom activated the state emergency operations center when the war started.
WHERE:
California
Los Angeles
Off the coast of California
WHEN:
The FBI memo was issued on March 4th, 2026, and was reported on March 11th, 2026.
The FBI memo was issued on March 4th, 2026.
The warning was reported on March 11th, 2026.
The war with Iran began in early March 2026.
WHY:
Federal and state security officials have deemed the information in the FBI memo to be "aspirational" in nature.
Federal and state security officials have deemed the information in the FBI memo to be "aspirational" in nature and do not currently believe there is an imminent threat.
The memo was based on "unverified" information suggesting Iran might retaliate against the U.S. due to military actions.
Concerns arose from Iran's history of drone attacks and potential cyberattacks.
HOW:
The FBI regularly shares information of questioned credibility with local law enforcement partners out of an abundance of caution.
The FBI regularly shares information of questioned credibility with local law enforcement partners out of an abundance of caution.
The FBI shared the memo with local law enforcement to ensure awareness of potential threats.
California's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is in regular coordination with federal, state, and local partners to share information on potential threats.
(UPDATED March 12, 2026 17:18 UTC)
Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the importance of being prepared for worst-case scenarios in light of an FBI memo issued on March 4, which he confirmed is part of the daily security updates the state receives from federal partners. President Trump commented on the memo, stating, "It's being investigated," although the document itself revealed no additional details about the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of the alleged attack. Federal and state security officials have described the information in the memo as "aspirational," highlighting the FBI's practice of sharing information of questioned credibility with local law enforcement to ensure caution.
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(UPDATED March 12, 2026 07:17 UTC)
This morning, the FBI released a memo indicating that information about a potential Iranian drone attack is based on unverified claims that emerged before the recent conflict. The memo notes that the FBI received this information in early February regarding Iran's alleged plans for a surprise attack using drones from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast, but federal and state security officials have labeled it as "aspirational" and do not see an imminent threat. When asked about the memo, Trump stated, "It’s being investigated," highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of the situation.
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(UPDATED March 12, 2026 01:29 UTC)
An FBI memo issued on March 4 warned of a potential Iranian drone attack on California, citing unverified information about Iran's aspirations to conduct a surprise strike using unmanned aerial vehicles. Governor Gavin Newsom, who activated the state emergency operations center when the conflict with Iran began earlier this month, reassured the public that while there are no imminent threats, the state remains prepared for any emergencies. The Los Angeles Police Department also confirmed that there are currently no known or specific threats to the city, emphasizing their coordination with federal and state agencies to monitor the situation.