Thousands of high school students from throughout the country who were members of student Islamic associations met the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Monday, March 14.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader referred to the effective role of the young people in the victory of the Islamic Revolution and also the important role that was played by the next young generation in different areas. He stressed that a major part of the progress made in the post-revolution era and many of the country's achievements are owed to the effective role played by the Iranian youth.
"Today, our young generation should continue the path of their former generations by making efforts in the field of science and through spiritual self-amelioration, an optimistic attitude toward the future, political awareness and vigilance. Our young people, by reaching the peaks of scientific progress and moral elevation, should lay the foundations of an Islamic society where development is combined with justice," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei hinted at the Constitutional Movement, which occurred in Iran around one hundred years ago. "If the movement had not been diverted from its original path and not been defeated, and if it had possessed the initiative similar to that of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation would have so far traveled a long distance on the path to moral and material progress and development," he pointed out.
He further stated, "At the time of the Constitutional Movement, the enemies led by Britain took advantage of the inexperience of the Iranian nation and that of the clergymen spearheading the movement and, as a result, managed to suppress the movement. Furthermore, by imposing their domination on our country, the enemies for decades deterred the Iranian nation from attaining its objective, which was independence and freedom under the banner of Islam, and did the Iranian people many wrongs."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also referred to the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which was achieved thanks to the awareness and dedication of the Iranian people and to the Islamic Revolution's strong, determined and charismatic leader. "Drawing on the experience obtained from the Constitutional Movement, the Iranian people, including clergymen and devout intellectuals, displayed vigilance in the face of the plots hatched by the enemies in the course of the Islamic Revolution and thwarted these plots by relying on the revolutionary values and observing spiritual and religious principles," he stated.
Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei cited vigilance in the face of enemies and awareness of their desires to once again dominate this country as the main factors contributing to the advancement of the Islamic Revolution and the country's full-scale progress.
"The fact that some 26 years after the revolution, the Iranian people still chant the slogan of 'death to America' indicates the awareness and vigilance of our nation. Just as the Satan is always laying an ambush for human beings, so the United States, as the great Satan, is also trying incessantly to once again dominate our country and hinder our progress," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
The Leader also touched on the country's remarkable achievements such as obtaining nuclear technology and growing stem cells, emphasizing that these breakthroughs are owed to the Iranian people's self-reliance, which was fostered in the post-revolution era in the absence of foreign domination and influence.
"Despite all these achievements, there is still a long way ahead to establish an ideal Islamic society enjoying worldly progress, spiritual elevation and justice. This long distance will not be covered unless through perseverance on the part of our youngsters and their incessant efforts in the field of science, their observance of social order and discipline, resistance to whims and enticements, unity and solidarity, hopeful attitude toward the future, sense of responsibility toward their duties, prudent planning and, above all, trust in Almighty God," the Leader told the students.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that the young generation's awareness and understanding of domestic and international political issues is much greater today compared with the pre-revolution era.
"Iranian youngsters have been present on different scenes ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In particular, they played an effective role in the last presidential elections," the Leader reminded the audience. "In the upcoming presidential elections also our young people, including the first-time voters, should consider voting a significant task and a pious deed, and they should display their influential role in electing the next chief executive of our country."
In conclusion, the Leader of the Islamic Republic warned the students to remain watchful of the enemies' plots targeting the Iranian youth as the motive force of the country's progress. He referred to student Islamic associations as dynamic and dedicated associations and called on their members to further strengthen their organization and set an example for other young people by taking part in various social and political activities.
The Leader's representative in charge of the affairs related to student Islamic associations, Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbari, in a report presented at the meeting said that around 350,000 students are members of Islamic associations nationwide. He also noted that the faith and revolutionary enthusiasm of the members of student Islamic associations are comparable to those of the young people in the Sacred-Defense era.
Hojjatoleslam Akbari further stated that students are ready to inundate the polling places on the Elections Day.