[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.