![Note: Wait, I need to correct formatting. The OUTPUT FORMATTING CONSTRAINTS specify: [TITLE] Put your rewritten headline here](https://i2.wp.com/media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/10/03011305/messi-argentina-10-2-1200x740.webp?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Note: Wait, I need to correct formatting. The OUTPUT FORMATTING CONSTRAINTS specify: [TITLE] Put your rewritten headline here")
LISBON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Portuguese prosecutors announced Saturday the opening of an investigation into whether the center-right government properly authorized U.S. use of the Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the Iran conflict, following a formal complaint by an opposition party.
A long-standing agreement between Portugal and the United States permits Washington to utilize the base without prior approval during peacetime, but requires Portuguese consent once active hostilities commence.
Unlike neighboring Spain, Portugal granted authorization for multiple U.S. transit flights through Lajes, a decision that drew sharp criticism from left-wing opposition parties and sparked intense political debate regarding Lisbon’s involvement in operations related to the Iran conflict.
In an official statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that the investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc party, though no additional details were provided.
Portugal’s Foreign Ministry declined to offer comment on the matter.
The Left Bloc requested an inquiry in April, arguing that U.S. use of the Lajes base constituted a “gross violation of international law.”
However, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel maintained that Portugal was not a party to the conflict and that the base’s use adhered to international law, noting that authorization was granted only after receiving assurances from Washington that operations would be strictly defensive, necessary, proportionate, and limited to military targets.
Portuguese prosecutors operate under the principle of legality, obligating them to investigate alleged misconduct when sufficient evidence exists, unlike in some jurisdictions where prosecutors have broader discretion over whether cases proceed.
The Lajes base, situated in Portugal’s Atlantic Azores archipelago, serves as a strategic transit point for U.S. forces under a bilateral defense treaty established in 1951. It currently hosts the 65th Air Base Wing of the U.S. Air Force, providing logistical support for U.S., NATO, and allied military operations.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Toby Chopra)
