India, March 21 -- India's ministry of external affairs (MEA) issued a sharp "fake news alert" after a viral social media post claimed that the United States had sought India's permission to use its territory to launch military operations against Iran. The clarification came via the MEA's official fact-check account on the social media site X.

The viral claim originated from a journalist who alleged that the US was exploring the use of western India under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) framework to support a military asset. The post further speculated about a possible offshore deployment near the Konkan coast, linking it to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US.

However, the MEA dismissed the assertions, i...