Portuguese PM says not to endorse U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran

LISBON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said Wednesday that Portugal was not involved in and did not monitor or endorse the U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran.

According to the official Lusa News Agency, Montenegro also emphasized that "the Portuguese state defends diplomatic and negotiation pathways to guarantee international peace."

The statement follows controversy over U.S. military operations at Lajes Air Base in the Azores, with opposition parties and experts questioning whether proper authorization was obtained for operations potentially supporting the Iran strikes.

According to Lusa, 15 U.S. KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft have been stationed for more than one week at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago that is approximately 1,500 km west of mainland Portugal in the mid-Atlantic. Thirteen aircraft departed the base on Sunday, one day after the U.S. and Israeli joint attack on Iran.

The Left Bloc party in the Azores "vehemently" condemned the U.S. use of Lajes Base for Iran-related operations, criticizing "total submission" to American interests.

The Socialist Party then requested that parliament summon the government to clarify the legal framework for recent U.S. force movements at Lajes Base.

In a request submitted to the Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Committee, Socialist deputies stated increased movements at the military base "are of great sensitivity, with doubts remaining about the ultimate purpose of operations in question and respective international legal framework."

Under the Portugal-U.S. Defense Cooperation Agreement, any use of Lajes Base by the United States beyond the framework of NATO or other international organizations supported by Portugal "should be subject to prior authorization." Enditem