🇵🇹🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — Portuguese prosecutors have opened an investigation into whether the government legally authorized U.S. use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the Iran war, following a complaint from the opposition Left Bloc.

Portugal permitted several U.S. transit flights through the base, unlike neighboring Spain.

While an existing agreement allows U.S. access without prior approval during peacetime, Portuguese authorization is required once hostilities begin.

The Left Bloc argues the decision violated international law. Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel maintains Portugal was not involved in the war and that access was granted only after U.S. assurances that operations would be defensive, necessary, proportionate, and limited to military targets.