The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei met today with thousands of enthusiastic students at the Iran University of Science and Technology. Speaking at this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei described the functions and characteristics of student movements and said that universities should serve as a place for constant promotion of science and research as well as the goals and ideals of the nation. Ayatollah Khamenei said that the enemies will be unable to do any harm to the country provided that the Islamic identity of the Islamic Republic is preserved by the nation and the government officials.
Ayatollah Khamenei further described the important characteristics of students and said that students are one of the most valuable resources of the country who play a decisive role both in the present and the future.
Ayatollah Khamenei described science and research as two factors which contribute to dynamism and national grandeur in the country and added: "The great progress which has been made in different scientific fields in recent years should continue at its current rate so that the country's backwardness in scientific fields can be overcome."
His Eminence also referred to the progress which has been made in the country in such fields as nanotechnology, medicine, nuclear technology, and modern technologies and said that such progress is indicative of the great scientific capacities and human resources of the country.
Ayatollah Khamenei further referred to the great talent and scientific background of the Iranian nation and added: "The current scientific movement inside the country is mainly aimed at turning Iran into one of the most scientifically advanced countries in the world, and this is a goal which can be achieved through the efforts of the country's scientists and students."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to the historical background of student movements in Iran and said: "According to historical facts, student movements in Iran have always been opposed to arrogance, despotism, and oppression and have sought justice at all times. Therefore, those who are involved in such movements should follow the same principles."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the death of three Iranian students in the anti-American demonstrations which took place on December 7, 1953 is indicative of the anti-arrogance nature of student movements in Iran. He added: "The student movement joined the movement which was started by the clergy in the year 1963, and played a major role - along with the clergy - in the victory of the Islamic Revolution."
Ayatollah Khamenei also touched upon the role of student associations, and referring to the differences between student associations and political parties said: "Political parties make efforts to gain power, but student associations do not seek to gain power. Rather, they try to achieve certain goals and ideals. Therefore, it is not acceptable for political parties to use student associations as a means for gaining power. This is a point which student associations should pay serious attention to."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution further invited the student associations inside the country to pursue the main goals behind the formation of student associations and said that preserving national unity and helping the nation to overcome the enemies' plots are among the main goals of forming such associations.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Islamic identity of the Islamic Republic as the main reason behind the resistance of the Islamic Republic against the enemies' plots during the past thirty years.
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the current status of the US in the region in comparison with the past 15 years and said: "There has been increasing hatred towards the US in the region during the past 15 years, and the US has suffered great failures during this period. Their plans in the Middle East region, particularly in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have all ended in failure."
Ayatollah Khamenei also said that the Islamic Republic has made great progress during this period despite being the target of most of the US plots in the region.
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that such resistance is indicative of the inherent power and ability of the Islamic Republic to continue its existence.
His Eminence said that preserving the true identity and formal structure of the Islamic Republic is an essential factor for its existence and for maintaining resistance against the enemies. He said: "According to the Constitution, the administration, Majlis, judiciary, and other government organizations constitute the formal structure of the Islamic Republic. Preserving this structure is necessary but not sufficient for the continued existence of the Islamic Republic."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that preserving the basic structure and the true identity of the Islamic Republic are the most important duties. He added: "The true identity of the Islamic Republic constitutes its soul, the absence of which makes the preservation of its formal structure useless."
Ayatollah Khamenei also added: "This true identity embodies the ideals of the Islamic Republic, that is, justice, human dignity, preserving the values, promoting equality and brotherhood, morality, and resistance against the enemies."
"A major portion of the identity of the Islamic Republic will be lost if Islamic morality is avoided, if justice is ignored, if the role of populist government officials is underestimated, if serving the public and making sacrifices for them are erased from the minds and acts of the government officials, and if simple lifestyles and remaining populist are erased from the minds of our government officials. If resistance against the enemies is replaced with personal weaknesses and weaknesses in personality, and if these weaknesses pervade international and political relations, a major portion of the identity of the Islamic Republic will be lost. In such circumstances, the formal structure of our government and the word 'Islamic' will not solve any problems," he stressed.
His Eminence also said: "Considering the fact that change in identity is a slow and gradual process, we must take extra care not to let the soul of the Islamic Republic be destroyed. This gradual change usually escapes many people's attention, and they may become aware of them after an irrevocable disaster has happened."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that preserving the true nature and the outward appearance of the Islamic Republic and guarding them against corruption are the most important duties of Iranian students. He further reiterated: "During the last 30 year, especially after Imam Khomeini (r.a.) passed away, many attempts were made on political, moral, and social fronts in order to separate the Islamic Republic from its soul and true identity. Allah's favor and public vigilance made these attempts futile."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the only way to prevent this corruption and the occurrence of such problems is to highlight our intellectual, religious, and political boundaries as well as the features of our Islamic identity. He further added: "Seeking justice, simple lifestyles, sincere efforts, constant efforts to obtain knowledge, scientific dynamism, putting up strong resistance against the greed and domination of foreigners, and defending our national rights in a brave manner are the defining features of our Islamic identity."
His Eminence referred to nuclear energy as one instance of national needs and rights and added: "The enemies focused all their attention on this issue, but our nation put up strong resistance. If our nation and government officials give up this inalienable right, they will prepare the way for the enemies to encroach on the other rights of the Iranian nation as well."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to justice and avoidance of aristocratic lifestyles as the main features of an Islamic identity and reiterated: "During the early years of the Islamic Revolution, avoidance of aristocratic lifestyles used to be considered a virtue among the government officials. However, this virtue gradually lost its position. Today, our government officials are fortunately re-introducing aristocracy as a vice through their simple lifestyles and acts."
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon justice and self-confidence on the part of the government officials as the other features of a true Islamic identity. "If there are weak and cowardly individuals among government officials, the Islamic Republic and the country will reach the end of the line even though the public are courageous and vigilant. That is because cowardly officials can turn a courageous nation into a weak nation," he stressed.
His Eminence said that further efforts on the part of the nation and the young generation to achieve greater scientific and economic power will foil the plots of the enemies.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched upon the high position of the Iran University of Science and Technology and stated that it is among the top eight universities in Iran. He also stressed that the Iran University of Science and Technology enjoys a high international status in a number of fields.
Ayatollah Khamenei also met with a number of professors teaching at the Iran University of Science and Technology and expressed his appreciation for their efforts. Some professors presented short reports regarding the position and scientific capacities of the Iran University of Science and Technology and the prevailing spiritual atmosphere in this university.