India denies claim of its ports being used by US amid Iran war: ‘Fake and false’

India's fact check comes after a Iranian navy ship was sunk by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka, brining the West Asia conflict to the Indian Ocean.

Published on: Mar 5, 2026, 10:07:16 IST

By Danita Yadav

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday rejected a viral claim that the US Navy are using Indian ports amid the conflict with Iran. Taking to X, the fact-check unit of the MEA dismissed the claim as "fake and false".

A US submarine, on Wednesday, torpedoed and sank an Iranian frigate in the waters near Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 people. (AFP/Representational)

In a fact check alert on social media platform X, the union ministry said "Claims being made on OAN, a US based channel that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false."

Track latest updates on the US-Iran-Israel war

"We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments," the MEA added further.

What was the claim?

In a news segment by One America News Network, which is a far-right American cable news channel, retired US Army Colonel and former Secretary of Defense advisor Douglas Macgregor claimed that the US Navy is using Indian ports amid the conflict with Iran.

Also Read | Pete Hegseth confirms sinking of Iranian warship in Indian ocean; Did US send any message to China and Russia?

Speaking to Matt Gaetz, the former advisor said - "China and Russia are sitting on the sidelines monitoring everything, they are in close touch with the government and providing satellite intelligence to Iran, which has helped in the attack against Israel and US bases."

He added that US bases in the Middle East have been "destroyed" and "harbour installations have been destroyed", due to which the US Navy is having to “fall back on India, Indian ports, which is less than ideal.”

US-Iran war reaches Indian Ocean

A US submarine, on Wednesday, torpedoed and sank an Iranian frigate in the waters near Sri Lanka. This attack, which has now widened the West Asia conflict, came days after the Iranian warship participated in a multi-nation exercise and international fleet review hosted by India in Visakhapatnam.

The vessel was identified as IRIS Dena, as per Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. At least 80 people were killed, and nearly 150 people were missing after the torpedo attack.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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