Iran’s religious tyranny

SIR – As an Anglo-Iranian opposed to the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses and terrorism in the region, I was very much encouraged by your leader (May 21) on how to interpret the mullahs’ sham election.

As you rightly argued, nothing has changed. Hassan Rouhani’s last four years as president only brought about further human rights violations (with the highest rate of executions in Iran in nearly three decades), poverty and injustice. Funds gained by the regime as a result of the nuclear agreement with the West were used to fuel deadly wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

The exiled opposition leader Maryam Rajavi is right to say Rouhani neither wants nor is able to seriously alter the structure or behaviour of this historically backward regime.

Iran can only end its status as a rogue state and regain its proper seat in the community of nations once the religious tyranny is overthrown and people’s freedom and sovereignty replace clerical rule.

Mohammad Hanif Jazayeri London NW9

SIR – I have just returned from a holiday tour of Iran. I found people friendly and willing to talk. I accept that I did not engage with the political elite, but I did speak – in English – to a cross-section of people, from children to a cleric and a retired schoolteacher. They were interested, interesting and mostly happy. The more people from the West visit Iran, the more things may improve.

An irony of my trip is that I will now find it more difficult to visit my family in America, as my passport contains an Iranian visa.

Stephen Barklem Woking, Surrey