MEA rejects viral claim of US seeking to launch Iran attack from Indian territory under LEMOA

Visuals of attack during US-Iran war

• MEA denies US request to use Indian territory for Iran action
• Viral social media claim termed fake and baseless by MEA
• LEMOA does not permit automatic military operations from India

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed as false a viral social media claim suggesting that the United States sought permission to use Indian territory to carry out military action against Iran. The government issued a clear rebuttal through its official fact-check account on X, warning users about misinformation circulating online.

“Fake News Alert! Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims and posts on social media!” the MEA stated, firmly rejecting the allegation.

The claim originated from a journalist’s post that suggested the US was exploring options under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) to support a military asset. The post further speculated that such an operation could involve positioning near India’s western coastline, particularly off the Konkan coast, amid tensions involving Iran.

According to the post, “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 also added logistical speculation, stating that no Indian naval berth could accommodate a massive US aircraft carrier, suggesting it would remain offshore while being serviced.

"LEMOA is Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement. A twist of the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) that the US has with The Phillippines...My take: with their military assets, including the headquarters of the 5th fleet, bombed in Manama, Bahrain, the Usrael needs land-based fruition for crew. India will have to take a call...No Indian Navy berth is long enough to host an aircraft carrier that is the size of nine football fields from home goal to a Romario kick. So, it will be at anchorage while the galleys (kitchens) will be filled up," the X post further said in its thread.

However, MEA made it clear that no such proposal or development exists. The MEA categorically termed the claim "fake and fabricated."

Fake News Alert!

Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims and posts on social media! pic.twitter.com/oKRc2kefAo — MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) March 21, 2026

LEMOA, signed in 2016 between India and the United States, is a logistics-sharing arrangement that allows both countries’ armed forces to use each other’s facilities for refuelling, repairs, supplies, and rest. These exchanges are conducted on a reimbursable basis and require specific approvals for each instance.

Importantly, the agreement does not allow either country to establish bases or automatically conduct military operations from the other’s territory. Any cooperation under the pact is limited and carefully regulated.

In broader practice, nations may use foreign territory for military purposes through formal agreements or permissions, such as logistics pacts, Status of Forces Agreements, or larger defense frameworks. Such arrangements depend on mutual consent, strategic considerations, and defined operational boundaries.

In this case, Indian authorities have urged caution, reiterating that the viral claim lacks credibility and advising the public to remain vigilant against misleading information online.