Fake News Alert: MEA Debunks Claim Indian Ports Are Being Used By US Navy Against Iran

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 01:18 IST

The MEA rejected claims aired by US network OAN that American warships were using Indian ports to stage attacks on Iran, calling the allegations “fake and false”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly rejected claims circulating online that Indian ports are being used by the United States Navy to launch attacks against Iran.

The government’s denial came through a post from the MEA’s official FactCheck handle on social media, which described the allegations as completely false.

The clarification followed reports broadcast by One America News (OAN), a conservative US television network, which claimed that Indian naval facilities were being used by American warships to stage operations targeting Iranian assets.

The segment, which cited unnamed “military sources", suggested that the alleged cooperation was part of a broader strategic alignment between India and the United States aimed at countering Iran’s influence in the Persian Gulf.

The claim quickly spread on social media platforms including X and Telegram, triggering widespread discussion and speculation online.

Responding to the reports, the MEA’s FactCheck account issued a direct rebuttal.

“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," the post said.

The ministry’s response comes as tensions continue to rise in West Asia following a series of military escalations involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

On Tuesday, the MEA also emphasised that the safety of Indian nationals in the Gulf region remains a major priority for the government.

Nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work across Gulf countries, making the region critical for India both economically and diplomatically.

“Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority," the MEA said earlier, adding that New Delhi cannot remain unaffected by developments that may endanger them.

Officials said the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and will take decisions in line with India’s national interests.

The MEA also said it remains in contact with governments across the region as well as other key international partners as the conflict continues to unfold.

The clarification came against the backdrop of coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28 across multiple Iranian cities, targeting military command centres, air defence systems, missile sites and other strategic infrastructure.

Those strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with four senior military and security officials. Large explosions were reported in Tehran and other major cities during the operation.

Iran subsequently retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allied countries across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, further widening the conflict in West Asia.

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