LISBON, April 7 – Portuguese officials have granted permission for 76 American military aircraft to land at the Lajes air facility in the Azores, along with 25 flights over Portuguese airspace during the current U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, according to government statements made Monday.
The approvals come with strict stipulations that American forces avoid striking civilian targets, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel disclosed during testimony before parliament. Rangel confirmed that Washington has honored these requirements as part of what he described as “loyal cooperation” between the NATO partners, though he noted that Portuguese authorities have denied some landing requests.
Multiple European nations including Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland have either limited or completely blocked American military aircraft from using their airspace and facilities during the Iranian conflict.
The restrictions come as President Donald Trump has set a Tuesday 8 p.m. Washington time deadline – which translates to 3:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tehran – for Iran to lift its Gulf oil blockade or face American strikes against Iranian bridges and power facilities.
“We are against any attack on civilian infrastructure, and we made that a condition for the use of the Lajes air base,” Rangel explained to lawmakers. He said Lisbon provides base access for military responses to attacks on America, but only when the retaliation is “necessary and proportional” and avoids civilian casualties.
“The Portuguese government has always made a point of handling this transparently. We say when we authorise it and when there are transits of U.S. aircraft, other (European) governments do as they see fit,” the Foreign Minister stated, emphasizing Portugal’s preference for diplomatic solutions to the Iranian crisis.
The Lajes facility serves as a crucial strategic location housing the U.S. Air Force’s 65th Air Base Wing, which supports American, NATO and allied military operations throughout the region.
