Russia provides Iran drone tactics as FBI warns of California threat

[00:00] Announcer: This is Neural Newscast. [00:02] Isabel Moreno: Here's What Matters this Wednesday, March 11, 2026. [00:07] Announcer: I am Thomas Keene. [00:09] Isabel Moreno: And I'm Isabel Moreno. [00:11] Announcer: Russia is now providing Iran with advanced drone tactics. [00:16] Announcer: These are based on its combat experience in Ukraine. [00:20] Isabel Moreno: Intelligence officials say this support includes swarming strategies and course adjustment methods. [00:27] Isabel Moreno: They are designed to bypass air defenses. [00:30] Announcer: Shahid drones have successfully penetrated defenses in the Gulf. [00:35] Announcer: Waves of over 1,000 drones are becoming a standard threat. [00:40] Isabel Moreno: President Zelensky confirmed today that Russia is also assisting with air defense and potentially missile technology. [00:48] Isabel Moreno: This is in return for Iranian support. [00:51] Thomas Keane: Turning now to domestic security. [00:54] Announcer: The FBI is warning of potential Iranian drone attacks on California from unidentified vessels. [01:01] Isabel Moreno: The Bureau is monitoring the West Coast. [01:05] Isabel Moreno: Intelligence suggests these strikes could be launched from the Pacific by offshore ships. [01:11] Announcer: Despite this warning, President Trump stated earlier today that he is not worried about Iran-backed attacks on the homeland. [01:19] Isabel Moreno: The administration appears to be balancing these threats. [01:23] Isabel Moreno: They are maintaining open communication channels with Moscow regarding oil prices. [01:28] Announcer: In other news, three more ships were struck in the Strait of Hormuz. [01:32] Announcer: The regional conflict enters its twelfth day. [01:35] Isabel Moreno: Maritime reports indicate that low-tech attacks using traditional fishing boats are targeting major shipping lanes. [01:42] Isabel Moreno: This includes carrier strike groups. [01:45] Announcer: CENTCOM recently denied claims that the United States S. Abraham Lincoln was hit. [01:50] Announcer: Officials stated the launched missiles did not come close to the carrier. [01:54] Isabel Moreno: Still, the use of sea drones and mines in the strait is causing significant concern. [01:59] Isabel Moreno: This impacts international energy supplies and trade stability. [02:03] Announcer: Next, Ukraine is sending drone interception experts to the Gulf. [02:07] Announcer: They will help regional partners stop relatively cheap Shahhead drones. [02:11] Isabel Moreno: These experts are sharing technology for tiny interceptors. [02:15] Isabel Moreno: They cost $5,000 to produce compared to the $30,000 drones. [02:21] Announcer: Kyiv has developed these systems rapidly. [02:24] Announcer: They counter the mass-produced drones that Moscow has been utilizing on the Ukrainian front lines. [02:29] Isabel Moreno: This technical cooperation highlights how the conflict in Eastern Europe is directly influencing defensive strategies in the Middle East. [02:37] Announcer: Here is what else we're watching. [02:39] Announcer: President Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed oil sanctions earlier this week to address rising global energy prices. [02:46] Isabel Moreno: We are also monitoring China's public condemnation of attacks against Iran. [02:51] Isabel Moreno: Beijing has not yet indicated direct military support for Tehran. [02:57] Announcer: We are also monitoring the deployment of new underwater mines in the street of Hormuz. [03:03] Announcer: These continue to threaten commercial maritime traffic. [03:07] Isabel Moreno: This has been Neural Newscast. [03:09] Isabel Moreno: Thanks for listening. [03:11] Isabel Moreno: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [03:15] Isabel Moreno: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.