The Indian fact check comes after a US submarine sank an Iranian navy ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, moving the conflict in West Asia into the Indian Ocean.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday rejected widely reported allegations that the US Navy is using Indian ports amid the conflict with Iran. Turning to
In a fact-checking alert on social media platform
Track the latest updates on the war between the US, Iran and Israel
The agency added: “We warn you against such fabricated and baseless comments.”
What was this claim?
In a news clip published by One America News Network, a far-right US news channel, retired US Army Colonel and advisor to former Defense Secretary Douglas MacGregor claimed that the US Navy is using Indian ports amid the conflict with Iran.
Read also | Pete Hegseth confirms Iranian warship sinks in Indian Ocean; Did America send any message to China and Russia?
Speaking to Matt Gaetz, the former advisor said – “China and Russia are sitting on the sidelines and monitoring everything, and are in close contact with the government and providing satellite intelligence to Iran, which has helped in the attack against Israel and American bases.”
He added that US bases in the Middle East had been “destroyed” and “port facilities had been destroyed”, forcing the US Navy to “return to Indian ports, which are less than ideal”.
The US-Iranian war reaches the Indian Ocean
On Wednesday, an American submarine attacked an Iranian frigate and sank it in waters near Sri Lanka. The attack, which has now widened the conflict in West Asia, came days after the Iranian warship participated in a multi-nation international fleet review exercise hosted by India in New Delhi.
The ship has been identified as the IRIS Dena, according to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. At least 80 people were killed, and approximately 150 were missing after the torpedo attack.
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Danita is based in New Delhi and serves as a pivotal voice in international reporting within the team. Operating under a mandate to deliver services ‘without the noise’, Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into clear, objective narratives that prioritize factual accuracy over sensationalism. At HT, Danita was honored for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India plane crash, which drove over 2 million users to the site with reliable and factual coverage of the incident. Thanks to her success in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also earned a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border politics. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years deep diving into covering international relations and global conflicts. She previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, where she covered a wide range of topics and topics, from education curriculum and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan wars. Danita holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University. Aside from the newsroom and her love of international relations, you’ll find Danita “obsessed” with books, music, and BTS. Her appreciation for global popular culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the “soft power” dynamics that have increasingly shaped international relations in an ever-changing global order.Read more
