A large group of young academic elites and superior students met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Saturday, September 16.
The students included those who had ranked first in the entrance examinations to the Iranian universities, those who had won prizes in the domestic scientific festivals and others who had obtained medals in the international scientific Olympiads.
Some 14 young elites and top students expressed their views on various academic, scientific, social and cultural issues in their meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic which took nearly two hours. They also underlined the need to raise the level of education at Iranian universities and made some suggestions for speeding up the country's progress and development.
Speaking to the students, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the attainment of scientific progress as a very significant strategic goal pursued by the Iranian nation. He stated that incessant, vigorous and tireless efforts on the part of Iranian scientists and talented students, especially the young academic elites, will play a major role in accomplishing this objective.
The Leader described his meeting with young superior students as a symbol of commemorating science and scientists and as indicative of the great significance that is attached to knowledge and its high status under the Islamic system.
"The Iranian nation has greatly suffered from its scientific retardation and also from the misuse of science at the hands of Western powers, which have used their scientific progress as a tool for establishing political, economic and cultural domination over other nations," the Leader told the audience.
He further stated, "This is the reason why the Iranian nation has now decided to take great strides on the path to scientific advancement and make up for its scientific backwardness and, thus, thwart the threats posed by its adversaries and antagonists."
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to risk-taking and unceasing efforts as the most important factors contributing to the progress of nations.
"Certain qualities such as taking risks, having the courage to embark on great tasks and having no fear of defeat and lack of success will imbue nations with vitality and dynamism and considerably increase their chances of success in various spheres of activity," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader also expounded on the significant role played by perseverance and ceaseless efforts in human achievements. He added that hedonism, slothfulness and shunning difficulties have always constituted the main cause of the nations' backwardness and stagnancy in the course of the history of mankind.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei told the students that scientific progress should be accompanied by the observance of moral and religious values. He also touched on the various social, cultural and economic problems that are facing the United States.
"The wide gap that exists between the most scientifically advanced country in the world, i.e., the United States, and noble human ideals such as justice, security, peace of mind and prosperity is a result of the great distance that exists in the West between scientific progress and ethical and spiritual values," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic described religion and morality as complementary to science and giving an impetus to its progress. He called on young academic elites to pay heed to moral and spiritual values alongside their incessant scientific activities and play their part in the country's progress with a due sense of responsibility.