>>Actually, you can construct a language without an iteration structure using only assignment and decision branching if you permit data indirection...dig out a copy of Knuth, volume 1, where he defines the minimum set of operators for his MIX language if you're particularly interested.
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>That's a reference I might look into. However, would you consider MIX a high level language? Would you consider data indirection a substitute for iteration structure?

No, MIX is a very low level language, but then FORTH, a potentially high level language, has no iterator; you build one once and forget about it forever after.

Indirection is the mechanism that allows you to step through a block of data repetitiously through alteration of an index identifier or pointer; without indirection, you need a mechanism that explicitly alters the pointer rather than permitting you to say "the thing that is N from this point".