DAVID Bates (HAS, July 18) does not counter any of my assertions. The fact that Israel has purchased weapons from the US does not constitute an alliance.

Mr Bates, conveniently, I suspect, overlooks the fact that Iran has received considerable military aid from the US in the shape of F-4, F-5 and F-14 aircraft, and is the only overseas recipient of the latter. By Mr Bates' reasoning, Iran is, therefore, a major ally of America.

The fact that Israel once backed Hamas does not detract from it being an evil organisation. The Western powers at one time backed Saddam Hussein and nobody, even those most opposed to the war with Iraq, have ever suggested that he was anything but an evil, murderous tyrant.

The fact that Iran has trouble with insurgency is probably down to its intolerant, harsh leadership which publicly executes prisoners, including children, sometimes by stoning.

B Kidd, Stockton-on-Tees.