Portugal prosecutors probe US use of Lajes base in Iran conflict

Portuguese prosecutors said Saturday they have opened a probe into whether the government lawfully authorized U.S. use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the Iran conflict, Reuters reported.

Government response: Portugal’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Saturday, Reuters said. Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has said Portugal was not a party to the conflict and that Lajes use complied with international law after U.S. assurances that operations would be defensive, necessary and proportionate, and limited to military targets. Rangel told parliament in June there were 81 U.S. stopovers and 24 overflights from Feb. 16, Expresso reported. He has said the Lajes agreement could be reviewed after the Middle East conflict ends, Portugal Resident reported.

Opposition view: The Left Bloc asked prosecutors in April to investigate, calling the flights a “gross violation of international law,” Reuters and Portuguese outlets reported. The complaint cites the crime of aggression, Expresso reported. Party coordinator José Manuel Pureza told RTP the inquiry “dismantles” the government’s argument that it followed international rules, while saying prosecutors’ conclusions must be awaited. The party recently delivered a letter with about 8,500 signatures asking the government to bar Lajes use for Iran-related strikes, RTP reported.

Base and visit: Lajes, in the Atlantic Azores, hosts the U.S. Air Force’s 65th Air Base Wing under a bilateral defense arrangement dating to 1951, Reuters said. Portugal Resident, citing Expresso, reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due in Lisbon next week on a European tour and that prosecutors have not named suspects or said when the inquiry began. An opened probe is not a finding that a crime occurred.

Primary: Reuters (Sergio Goncalves / Toby Chopra), Oct 3, 2026 — prosecutors opened probe into legality of centre-right government’s authorization of US Lajes use in Iran conflict after Left Bloc complaint; peacetime agreement vs hostilities approval; Portugal authorized transit (Spain did not); PGO confirmed probe from Left Bloc complaint; Foreign Ministry declined comment; Rangel said Portugal not involved and use complied with IL after defensive/necessary/proportionate/military-target assurances; Lajes hosts 65th Air Base Wing under 1951 bilateral treaty. RTP/CNN Portugal (Lusa), Oct 2–3 — PGR confirmed inquiry after April Left Bloc complaint alleging “gross violation of international law”; BE coordinator José Manuel Pureza criticized Rangel; BE delivered ~8,500-signature letter seeking ban on Lajes use for Iran strikes; US-Israel offensive began Feb 28. Portugal Resident (Natasha Donn), Oct 3 — Rubio expected Lisbon during Oct 5–8 European tour after Iceland/Greece; Expresso cited on Feb 27–28 KC-46 flights and late-day conditional authorization; inquiry does not establish a crime. Caveat: opening an inquiry is not a finding of illegality; no named suspects disclosed. Re-check ~12:02 PM PT Oct 3: added PGR first confirmed to Lusa Friday; Expresso (crime of aggression; Rangel's June figure of 81 stopovers/24 overflights since Feb 16); Pureza RTP reaction; Rangel review-after-conflict remark. No right-leaning source found.