A stark reminder that Iran’s ambition is the total destruction of Israel

Sir – The drone and missile attacks on Israel by the totalitarian Islamic state of Iran (report, April 14) have been described as “revenge”. However, let’s be clear: Iran initiated this war on October 7 2023 and continues to want Israel’s total destruction.

What is Israel supposed to do? D S A Murray

Dorking, Surrey

Sir – Sooner rather than later, the regime in Iran will have to be confronted head-on.

If Tehran acquires nuclear weapons, it won’t hesitate to use them. We have been clearly warned.

Dominic Shelmerdine

London SW3

Sir – Incredibly, Iran is this year serving as the chair of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament.

Perhaps it’s time for the UN to be restructured.

James Ward

London N20

Sir – Whatever casuistry Iran chooses to present for its seizure of an Israelilinked vessel on Saturday (report, telegraph.co.uk, April 13), this is essentially an act of piracy and should be treated as such.

David Fisher

Manchester

Sir – The use of RAF fighters to shoot down Iranian drones bound for Israel will result in retaliatory action by Iran in the form of attacks on British shipping navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. This irresponsible disregard for the lives of British seafarers is reprehensible.

Throughout my 44-year career in the Merchant Navy, I had to look down the wrong end of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s weapon on a number of occasions. I’ve been fired on in the Strait by Boghammar patrol boats armed with half-inch machine guns, intercepted by an Iranian warship within a cable of Dubai’s breakwater (only to be saved by the timely arrival of a Royal Navy destroyer), and very nearly shot dead on arrival by air at Bandar Abbas airport.

The Royal Navy no longer has sufficient capacity to protect our merchant fleet. The British Government needs to stop giving token assistance to our American allies without first stopping to consider the danger this causes to seafarers. Bombing Yemen has already resulted in attacks on British shipping, and this situation can only now get a lot worse. Peter J Newton

Retired Merchant Navy captain Chellaston, Derbyshire

Sir – I am slightly bemused by reports that the RAF shot down Iranian drones targeted at Israel. Why hasn’t it assisted Ukraine in a similar fashion? Surely a country that has already been illegally invaded deserves similar, if not stronger, support. JL Greenwood London SW18