India rejects report claiming US using its ports for Iran strikes

India has denied a report suggesting that the United States is using its ports to carry out strikes on Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs responded after former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor claimed in an interview with One America News Network that US forces were relying on Indian naval bases in their operations against Iran. He stated, “All of our bases have been destroyed. Our harbour installations are destroyed. We are actually having to fall back on India and Indian ports, which is less than ideal; that is what the navy says.” In a post on X, the MEA’s FactCheck account labeled these claims as “fake and false” and advised against believing such unfounded and made-up statements. India has voiced “deep concern” over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, urging all parties to "exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize the safety of civilians.” The situation in the Middle East escalated after US and Israeli forces conducted joint strikes on Iran on Saturday, resulting in the death of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following this, Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and American military bases in Gulf nations.