Oscars on High Alert as FBI Warns Police Departments in California That Iran Could Retaliate for U.S. Attacks by Launching Drones at the West Coast

The Oscars is on high alert amid an FBI warning of a potential Iran drone attack on California in retaliation for the war.

According to ABC News, the FBI warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast.

“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 State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert read. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”

According to ABC News, this information came before the U.S. and Israel began their strikes against Iran, and it is “believed” the sustained bombardment “has severely degraded Iran’s capabilities to carry out such an attack.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was not aware of any imminent threats. “I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including at @Cal_OES, to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East,” he tweeted. “While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.”

Still, security is set to be increased at this Sunday’s Oscars. Oscars telecast producer Raj Kapoor told The Hollywood Reporter: “We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it’s a close collaboration. This show has to run like clockwork. But we want everybody that is coming to this show, that is witnessing the show, that is even a fan of the show when they’re standing outside the barricades, we want everybody to feel safe and protected and welcome, so it’s our job as a producing team to make sure that that translates.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told THR it was continuing to operate at an “elevated level of readiness and is maintaining increased vigilance.”

“We are working closely with our federal and local law enforcement partners to share intelligence and monitor the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and assess any potential impacts in our communities,” it continued. “The safety of the public remains our highest priority. As part of our preparedness efforts, we remain attentive to all potential threats, including lone-actor attacks, sleeper cells, and advanced technological or cyber-related threats.”

The 98th Oscars is set for March 15, 2026, from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles at the new time of 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 11pm GMT. The broadcast is expected to run for three hours, but it will no doubt go on long. Sinners leads the way with a record-breaking 16 nominations. One Battle After Another has 13 nominations. Conan O’Brien – who also starred in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You alongside Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne – is hosting the Oscars for the second year in a row. As IGN has reported, the ceremony will include two “moments” highlighting two of last year’s most beloved films, Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters, and that they will include even more than the standard performances of the nominated original songs.

Variety said a planned red-carpet walkthrough with talent publicists and studio representatives is scheduled for Thursday.

Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.