Tehran, February 14 (RHC)-- A senior Iranian military official says the massive turnout in the 1979 Islamic Revolution anniversary rallies served as a response to the "foolish rhetoric" by U.S. officials against Iran.

The millions-strong rallies dismayed Washington and the Israeli regime, said Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. He said: "The rallies further strengthened countries which are our friends, and they were a clear message in the face of the sanctions, U.S. officials" foolish remarks and the military options against Iran put on the table by Washington.

The top Iranian general said that "proposing such options is like a joke." The military official also described the massive march as "the biggest backing" for Iran's negotiating team in the Geneva talks with the six world powers over Tehran's nuclear energy program.

Referring to Iran's military as the "most powerful in West Asia," he said the nation's armed forces "do not need foreign arms" since "we have our own indigenous products." He also pointed to the Islamic Republic's missile potential, saying: "Our missile capabilities are aimed at defending the nation, our interests and our principles" of course, our missiles have a certain range since our policy is not an aggressive one, rather it is based on defense.”