A deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the United States needs "big turn" in its policies toward Iran, local English language satellite Press TV reported on Thursday.
"Time is ripe for the U.S. to make a big change in its strategy. They should accept a world of equality for their survival," Brigadier General Hossein Salami was quoted as saying, Xinhua reported.
In a meeting with military attaches of foreign countries in Iran on Thursday, Salami praised the firm resistance of the Iranian nation against the U.S. "plots" over the past 30 years after the Islamic Revolution gained victory over the west-backed Shah.
"Despite pressure and sanctions against Iran, we move forward day by day ...Today the Islamic (Iran) is capable of defending its cultural, political and religious thoughts," the report quoted him as saying.
"We can resist against the toughest sanctions and meet our demands," he added.
Iran on Monday turned down a visit offer to Tehran by U.S. Senator John Kerry, official IRNA news agency reported.
Head of Iran's Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Iran turned down a request made by John Kerry to pay a visit to Tehran because the U.S. Democrats proved inconsistent in word and action.
Since there is no change in the U.S. policy concerning the Islamic Republic after President Barack Obama took office last year, there will be no change in Iran's policy as well, Boroujerdi said.