Iran

For anyone to suggest that proliferation of nuclear weapons would make the world safer is lunacy. It is tantamount to giving everyone a gun and ammunition on the pretext that all murders would then cease. The reverse would certainly ensue.

Although I oppose the use of nuclear weapons and their existence, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were prominent military bases, certainly not defenceless, and therefore legitimate targets during, in Mr Pender's own words in previous correspondence, "a legal and just war".

As regards Iran, that country has certainly persecuted innocents, bombed and shelled Iraqis during the war of the 1980s, and, as a measure of civilisation is how well a country treats its prisoners, Iran regularly executes publicly many prisoners, including children, often for "crimes" we would not consider to be so, such as criticising its leadership - as Mr Pender frequently does, and is entitled to do in our society.

I would hope, in future, Mr Pender's comments would be reasoned and researched.

B Kidd, Stockton.