The White House has demanded a retraction of a report warning of a potential Iranian drone attack on California, stating the story relied on a single unverified tip. Officials clarified no credible threat to the U.S. homeland exists. The dispute emerges as Iranian drone warfare intensifies globally, with cryptocurrency playing a documented role in financing drone supply chains, including seizures of over $500,000 in USDT linked to an Iranian national.
The White House is demanding that ABC News retract a report warning that Iran sought to launch drone attacks on California. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the story was based on one unverified tip, adding, “TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.” California Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials affirmed they were not aware of any imminent threats but remained prepared.
This controversy coincides with Iran launching hundreds of drones across the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes. Military officials note drones have become a defining, cost-effective weapon in modern warfare, with the global military drone market projected to reach $66 billion by 2035. Iranian operations frequently use Shahed-type one-way attack drones, similar to those Russia deploys in Ukraine.
Cryptocurrency has appeared in investigations into drone funding. U.S. prosecutors sought to seize over $500,000 in USDT from an Iranian national accused of supplying navigation technology for military drones. Israeli officials later called for the seizure of $1.5 million in Tether allegedly tied to Iran.
Authorities stated the funds were held in a private cryptocurrency wallet and linked to a company supplying equipment for Shahed drones. In 2022, Ukraine reported spending over $54 million in crypto on drones and other military needs, while pro-Russian groups donated over $2 million in cryptocurrency according to Chainalysis.
