“We had no knowledge of the US attack on Iran.” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa confirmed that Portugal had ‘no knowledge’ of the United States’ plan to attack Iran, even though the Portuguese government had been ‘notified’ by the United States a few days earlier to ‘remain at Lajes Base’.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, confirmed that he had been “notified” by Luís Montenegro’s government of a “request by the United States to stay at Lajes Base” in the Azores, but assured that Portugal was not aware that the Americans were planning to attack Iran.
“The government told me what was going on. This request was made by the United States to remain at Lajes Base, within the framework of the agreement that has existed for many years, for refueling aircraft, to supply the American fleet in the Atlantic, both naval and air. That’s it. It’s a normal situation, which has happened and can happen,” explained Marcelo, speaking to journalists on Monday in Luanda, Angola.
This notification from the United States was received “a few days before” the attack on Iran, and there was no reference to it.
“I don’t know any more than that. It was a few days before what happened. Not only were we unaware of it, but there was nothing in the notification that pointed to it,” he said.
Still on the subject of the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, Marcelo said he agreed with the government. Still, he was also “in line with the UN Secretary General” and the various European leaders and leaders”.
“The Prime Minister came out with a government position and I published a note on the position of the President of the Republic, which is very simple. The President is naturally in agreement with the government, but he draws attention to the fact that he is also in line with the Secretary General of the United Nations and various European leaders who have spoken out on three fundamental aspects: concern about the seriousness of the situation, which is extremely serious; a call for restraint to avoid a worsening of the situation and for diplomatic channels to be reopened,” stressed the head of state.
From Notícias ao Minuto
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