Visas suspended for Iranian nationals - no explanation given

Portugal has suspended visas for Iranian citizens for security reasons, the foreign minister said in committee on Tuesday, but he did not explain why.

"Yes, we have suspended [visas for Iranian citizens] for security reasons," Augusto Santos Silva said in response to a question from centre-right Gonçalves Pereira MP.

The minister asked, however, not to explain the reason while the parliamentary committee was taking place with journalists present, assuring that it will give "all the explanations" at the end of the session, behind closed doors.

"I will give explanations but not in public for security reasons," he said, adding that Portugal "does not play with entries into national territory".

Augusto Santos Silva was being heard today in a Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.