White House says no Iranian threat to US homeland after report of possible drone retaliation

WASHINGTON

The White House said Thursday there is no credible threat from Iran to the US homeland, rejecting a media report that suggested Tehran could retaliate for American strikes by targeting the West Coast with drones.

Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt made the remarks in a post on US social media company X while criticizing an ABC News report that said the FBI warned police departments in the state of California about a potential Iranian drone threat.

“To be clear: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt argued the report was based on a single email sent to local law enforcement referencing a "single, unverified" intelligence tip.

According to Leavitt, the email itself stated the information was based on “unverified” intelligence, a detail she said was omitted from the news report.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a possible revenge plot by Iran in California has been investigated.

"You have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come," Trump told reporters.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said earlier that the state elevated its security posture following a report that US authorities warned of a potential Iranian drone threat to the West Coast.

“The Governor has directed California Governor's Office of Emergency Services to elevate its security posture and has been coordinating with state, local and federal partners since the start of the conflict to share information around-the-clock,” Newsom said.