The Portuguese political class has united in condemning the United States’ attack in Iran this Sunday, with several parties pressing the government on the use of the Lajes Base in the Azores.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed concern over the risk of a “serious escalation” in the Middle East and called for “maximum restraint from all parties” and a return to negotiations to find a “diplomatic solution.”
In a post on the social network X, formerly Twitter, the Portuguese Prime Minister stated that “Iran’s nuclear program is a serious threat to global security, and it cannot continue.”
O programa nuclear do Irão é uma séria ameaça à segurança mundial, pelo que não pode prosseguir. Muito preocupado com o risco de grave escalada no Médio Oriente, apelo à máxima contenção de todas as partes e ao regresso às negociações com vista a encontrar uma solução…
— Luís Montenegro (@LMontenegro_PT) June 22, 2025
The party Livre questioned the Prime Minister about the intensified use of the Lajes Base in the Azores by the US Air Force and urged the government to oppose NATO’s aim of investing 5% of GDP in defense.
The party Livre questioned the Prime Minister today about the intensified use of the Lajes Base in the Azores by the US Air Force and urged the government to oppose NATO’s aim of investing 5% of GDP in defense.
Lusa | 12:49 – 22/06/2025
On X (formerly Twitter), Rui Tavares wrote that “Trump is a war president” and that “Portugal cannot be on his side.”
Trump é um presidente de guerra. Portugal não pode estar do seu lado.
“Considera o Governo q estes ataques respeitam o Direito Internacional, designada/ a Carta das Nações Unidas? Caso contrário, q pretende o Governo fazer para condenar estes ataques?”https://t.co/H4DNrYi1AE
— rui tavares (@ruitavares) June 22, 2025
The national coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), Mariana Mortágua, called for Portugal to condemn the “Trump and Netanyahu plan” to dominate the Middle East, insisting that the government should prevent the US from using the Lajes Base.
Já conhecemos outras guerras preventivas, baseadas em ameaças inventadas. O plano de Trump e Netanyahu para dominarem o Médio Oriente é ilegal e terá consequências terríveis no mundo. Portugal deve condena-lo e impedir a utilização das bases norte americanas em solo nacional.
— mariana mortágua (@MRMortagua) June 22, 2025
Before the bombings, on Saturday night, the secretary-general of the PCP also rejected that Portugal becomes “stained with blood” and complicit in the war with the use of the Lajes Air Base by the Americans.
“In light of the American aircraft being stationed at Lajes Base, it is essential that we do not repeat the sad episode that occurred with Iraq,” stated the communist leader, Paulo Raimundo, during a public session in Beja.
The secretary-general of the PCP rejected on Saturday night that Portugal becomes “stained with blood” and complicit in the war with the use of the Lajes Air Base in the Azores by the Americans.
Lusa | 01:28 – 22/06/2025
André Ventura, president of the Chega party, stated that “Iran should NEVER have nuclear weapons” and added that “those who do not understand this are playing with our collective security and our future.”
“I think it is, or should be, consensual in Portugal and Europe that Iran should NEVER have nuclear weapons. Those who do not understand this are playing with our collective security and our future,” he wrote on X (Twitter).
Acho que é, ou deveria ser, consensual em Portugal e na Europa que o Irão JAMAIS deve ter armas nucleares. Quem não perceber isto está a brincar com a nossa segurança coletiva e com o nosso futuro.
— André Ventura (@AndreCVentura) June 22, 2025
Socialist Isabel Moreira echoed this Sunday the statements made by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who described the US attack on Iran as “grossly unconstitutional.”
The democrat was at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he informed the crowd of the events that occurred early that morning.
“Not only is this news that I just heard alarming… it is also grossly unconstitutional. You all know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have that right,” he said.
“This,” wrote Isabel Moreira on X (Twitter), where she shared a video of the moment.
Isto. https://t.co/Bpmmk8keHq
— Isabel Moreira (@IsabelLMMoreira) June 22, 2025
Eurico Brilhante Dias also reacted to the US attacks in Iran, echoing the message delivered by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
“Multilateralism. Peace Diplomacy,” wrote the socialist on X (Twitter).
It should be noted that Guterres expressed “grave alarm at the use of force by the United States against Iran,” warning that “there is no military solution” to replace diplomacy.
Multilateralismo. Diplomacia da Paz. https://t.co/zRgGATmA4p
— Eurico BRILHANTE DIAS (@BrilhanteDias) June 22, 2025
