India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a firm clarification after a viral social media post claimed that the United States was seeking permission to use Indian territory for military operations against Iran. The Ministry labelled the claim as false and urged people to avoid spreading unverified information.

MEA calls out 'fake news'

The clarification was shared through the MEA's official fact-check handle on X. Responding to the circulating claim, the Ministry stated, "Fake News Alert! Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims and posts on social media!"

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The viral post, attributed to a journalist, alleged that the US was exploring the use of western India under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) to support a military operation. It also suggested a possible offshore deployment near the Konkan coast in connection with the ongoing Iran-US tensions.

However, the MEA categorically dismissed these assertions, making it clear that no such development has taken place.

What the viral post claimed

The post claimed, "Breaking News: The US has asked permission from India to support a military asset that will be used to bomb Iran from Western India. In bureaucratic terms it means an interpretation of the LEMOA."

It further added details about a possible deployment off the Konkan coast, suggesting logistical support for a US military asset stationed at sea.

Understanding LEMOA

The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), signed in 2016, is a logistics pact between India and the United States. It allows both countries' armed forces to access each other's military facilities for refuelling, repairs, supplies, and rest, on a reimbursable basis.

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Importantly, the agreement does not permit basing of troops or automatic use of territory for military operations. Each request under LEMOA is subject to case-by-case approval.

Globally, countries may use another nation's territory for military purposes through formal agreements or specific permissions. These include arrangements like Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA), logistics pacts, or broader defence treaties.

Such cooperation depends on mutual consent, legal frameworks, and clearly defined operational limits.