Leader Urges Maintenance of Revolutionary Morale in Universities
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need for political activities in the Iranian universities, but cautioned that such spirit of dynamism should not alienate students from the Revolution’s values.
At a gathering of Iranian university professors, elites and academic researchers, held in Tehran on Saturday evening, Ayatollah Khamenei enumerated the prerequisites for turning Iran into a leading scientific power and an exemplary model of democracy with respect for Islam and morality.
One of the necessities for achieving the future goals is the existence of political insight and activities in the universities, the Leader explained, but underlined that such atmosphere should not be misused to oppose the Islamic Revolution and the revolutionary values.
“The universities and the students should always remain revolutionary,” Imam Khamenei emphasized.
The Leader noted that if a favorable prospect for progress in the next 20 years would entail a “mighty, dignified, independent, pious, and wealthy Iran that enjoys justice and a popular government,” the universities do need to gain those qualities first.
Ayatollah Khamenei then cautioned that lack of compliance with those criteria will inflict heavy cultural and social damages on Iran, and will make a country “with summits of wealth at the side of valleys of misery, disorder and privation,” a blatant example of which is the “US society or American Wall Street.”
Imam Khamenei also renewed the call for serious efforts to accelerate the country’s scientific progress, which has slowed down recently.
Making a reference to the international acclaim that Iran has won in the scientific field, the Leader emphasized that the young Iranian generation should be informed of such reflections in the international arena to be proud of being an Iranian.
Elsewhere in the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei said while the “scientific diplomacy” and academic links with the world are important, the threats should not be ignored, because the enemy employs every tool, including scientific interaction, to infiltrate into the country and undermine security.
The Leader finally described the Iranian university professors and students as “the commanders and officers in a soft war”, cautioning that the extent of the enemy’s soft war against Iran has become much broader than the previous years.
In recent years, Imam Khamenei has repeatedly raised the alarm at the effects of an extensive soft war the enemies have waged against Iran, saying one of the main objectives is to change the religious and political beliefs of people, particularly the youth.
Soft war is a term used by Iranian officials to refer to the cultural invasion and soft intelligence tactics used by foreign countries deemed hostile toward Iran.
