India has rejected claims circulating online that the United States used Indian ports to carry out strikes on Iran, calling the assertion baseless and fabricated.

The clarification came after a video featuring former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor began circulating widely on social media. In the interview with a US-based channel, he suggested that American forces were relying on Indian naval bases as part of their military operations against Iran.

Responding to the remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the claims were incorrect.

The MEA’s FactCheck account said that the statements being made on the channel were “fake and false”.

“We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments,” the ministry said in a post on X on Wednesday.

Tensions escalate in Middle East conflict

India’s response comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following a conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The region was thrown into turmoil after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran on Saturday, which resulted in the death of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran later retaliated by launching missiles targeting Israel as well as American military bases located in Gulf countries.

In another development during the conflict, an American submarine fired a torpedo that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday night. The vessel, IRIS Dena, had been on a friendly visit to India when it was hit. The attack reportedly left 87 people dead and marked the first instance since World War II in which an American submarine targeted a surface vessel.

The conflict has now entered its sixth day, with tensions continuing to remain high across the region.

Reports suggest that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran so far, while about a dozen deaths have been reported in Israel. At least six US troops are also said to have been killed during the fighting.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have defended the strikes on Iran, saying the action was taken because Iran posed an imminent threat.

“If we didn’t do it first, they would have done it to Israel and give us a shot, if that was possible,” Trump said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to assess the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia following the US-Israel military action against Iran and the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The high-level meeting took place soon after the prime minister returned to New Delhi at around 9.30 pm after concluding his two-day visit to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to sources, the CCS reviewed developments arising from the fresh round of hostilities in the region and their potential implications for India.

Those present at the meeting included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Senior officials such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also attended.

Safety of Indian nationals discussed

Sources indicated that the CCS deliberated on measures to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in the region. Nearly 10,000 Indians are currently in Iran, while more than 40,000 reside in Israel. The broader Gulf and West Asia region is home to an estimated nine million Indians.

With airspace across parts of West Asia largely shut amid military escalation, flight operations have been disrupted. Hundreds of Indian passengers are reported to be stranded at major transit hubs such as Dubai and Doha, prompting appeals on social media for government assistance.

The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the affected countries are in touch with nationals and have activated helplines to provide support.

Strait of Hormuz and oil supply concerns

The meeting is also understood to have reviewed the situation arising from the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities. The strait is a crucial maritime route for global energy supplies, including oil shipments destined for India.

In the past, India has carried out large-scale evacuation operations in conflict zones, including in West Asia, to bring back its citizens safely.

Escalation in West Asia

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed in a major strike carried out early Saturday by Israel and the United States. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old leader’s death on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump said the action gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back their country” and indicated that military operations would continue as long as necessary.

Iran responded by launching drones and missiles targeting Israel, US military installations in the Gulf region, and areas including the global business hub of Dubai.

Meanwhile, members of the Shia community in several parts of India held gatherings on Sunday to express grief and protest over Khamenei’s killing.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed following joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to confirmation from Iranian state media.

State broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported on Sunday morning that the 86-year-old leader had “reached martyrdom”. Media reports said he was killed in his office during the early hours of Saturday when Israeli and US forces launched what has been described as one of the most extensive attacks on Iranian targets in decades.

Iranian state television said his death at his office demonstrated that he “stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities,” confronting what officials described as “global arrogance”.

Reports of strike on Khamenei’s compound

Earlier, media reports quoting Israeli officials stated that Khamenei had been killed in an Israeli strike on his compound in Tehran on Saturday morning. A senior Israeli official reportedly said his body had been recovered from the site.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been shown an image of Khamenei’s body after it was retrieved from the compound.

The assassination of the Islamic Republic’s second Supreme Leader, who reportedly had no designated successor, is expected to create significant uncertainty over Iran’s political future and could heighten the risk of prolonged regional conflict amid threats of retaliation.

Trump announces death on social media

US President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death in a post on X, describing it as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” He said the operation followed coordinated US-Israeli aerial bombardment targeting Iranian military and government sites.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said US intelligence and tracking systems had monitored Khamenei’s movements and claimed there was “not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”

He added that the heavy and “pinpoint bombing” would continue as long as necessary to achieve what he described as peace across the Middle East and the world.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, a message appeared on Khamenei’s official X account in Persian reading: “In the name of Nami Haider (peace be upon him),” raising questions about the timing of the confirmation.

Other senior Iranian leaders reported killed

Sources cited by media said that Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were among those killed in the strikes.

Israel’s military said it had confirmed the deaths of five other senior commanders, including Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the Supreme Leader. Iranian media also reported that several of Khamenei’s family members — including his daughter, grandchild, son-in-law and daughter-in-law — were killed.

Iran has described the strikes as unprovoked and illegal. In response, it reportedly launched missile attacks targeting Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states hosting US military bases.

Who was Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had led Iran since 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini after the latter’s death. As Supreme Leader, he held ultimate authority over the government, armed forces and judiciary in the Islamic Republic.

Initially seen by some observers as a weak successor, Khamenei consolidated power over decades, maintaining a hardline stance against Western countries, particularly the United States. Throughout his tenure, he backed policies that critics said deepened Iran’s international isolation.

He remained vocal in opposing Washington, including during Donald Trump’s second term as president beginning in 2025. Amid protests within Iran and growing external pressure, Khamenei had reiterated that the country would not “yield to the enemy,” reflecting his longstanding anti-Western posture.

His death marks a major turning point for Iran and the wider Middle East, with regional and global implications likely to unfold in the coming days.