India has rejected claims circulating online that the United States used Indian ports to launch attacks against Iran, calling the report âbaseless and fabricatedâ.
The clarification came after a video of former US Army Colonel Douglas MacGregor went viral on social media. In the interview with US-based channel One America News Network, Macgregor claimed that American forces were relying on Indian ports after their own bases and harbour installations were destroyed.
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India rejects claim of US using its ports for Iran strikes
In the video, Macgregor can be heard saying that US naval forces were âfalling back on India and Indian ports,â describing it as a less-than-ideal situation.
Claim: On a US-based channel, One America News Network (@OANN), former U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor made a statement suggesting that the United States is using Indian naval bases to attack Iran, amidst the ongoing Iran-US conflict.#PIBFactCheck:
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 4, 2026
âThis claim is #FAKE⊠pic.twitter.com/nzcXCi7yT9
Responding to the claim, the Ministry of External Affairsâ FactCheck account said the statement was false. âThe claims being made are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments,â the government said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
India has also expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and urged all sides to avoid further escalation. The government has called for restraint and stressed the need to protect civilian lives.
Fake News Alert!
â MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) March 4, 2026
Claims being made on OAN, a US based channel that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments. pic.twitter.com/xiFWnkoXBk
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Escalating tensions in the Middle East
The Middle East conflict intensified after the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran last Saturday, reportedly killing Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was 86.
Iran responded by launching missiles at Israel and targeting US military bases in Gulf countries. The situation further escalated on Tuesday night when an American submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing 87 people on board.
Reports say the vessel, IRIS Dena, had earlier been on a friendly visit to India.
The war has now entered its sixth day, with heavy casualties reported on both sides. According to estimates, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran and about a dozen in Israel. At least six American soldiers have also died.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have defended the strikes, saying Iran posed an imminent threat. Trump said the attacks were launched to prevent a possible strike by Iran on Israel.
