“Baseless and fabricated”: India rejects claims of US using its ports for Iran strikes

India on Wednesday strongly rejected claims that the United States is using Indian ports to launch strikes against Iran amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the allegation as “fake and false” after remarks by a former US military official circulated widely online.

The claim surfaced during an interview in which former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor suggested that the US Navy was relying on Indian ports after its bases and harbour installations in the Middle East were destroyed during the conflict. He alleged that the US was “falling back on India and Indian ports”, a statement that quickly drew attention amid rising tensions in the region.

Responding to the allegation, the MEA’s fact-check unit issued a clarification on social media, stating that the claims being made were incorrect. The ministry described the remarks as “baseless and fabricated comments” and cautioned against the spread of misinformation regarding India’s role in the conflict.

The clarification comes at a time when the escalating confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran has expanded beyond the Middle East. The conflict recently reached the Indian Ocean after a US submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka, an incident that resulted in significant casualties and intensified regional tensions.

India has so far maintained a cautious diplomatic stance on the crisis, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and urging all sides to exercise restraint. New Delhi has also called for prioritising civilian safety and avoiding further escalation as the conflict continues to unfold.