In an exclusive interview with al-Alam on Sunday evening, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh stressed that as a serviceman and an IRGC member and not as a diplomat, he considered America as enemy.

“If Americans had no enmity, they would have stopped reconnaissance flights and reduced their presence in the Persian Gulf,” he said.

Answering a question on whether the nature of US or Israeli threats have changed, General Hajizadeh said, “After recent incidents, we do not see any change in the nature of threats; and basically, we do not trust enemies.”

He hoped that “Americans come to their senses, cease mischief and enmities, and respect the rights of the Iranian nation.”

“One cannot look at this deep issue so simply. Their enmity towards us has continued for over half a century, and even if they had the will to do so, it takes time for them to change this atmosphere,” the IRGC commander said.

In the first direct communication between an Iranian and a US president since Iran’s Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani received a call from US President Barack Obama on Friday before leaving New York for Tehran.

The two presidents stressed Tehran and Washington’s political will to swiftly resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program which the United States, Israel and some of their allies claim to include a military component.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

HH/HH