Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a meeting with selected students and representatives of student organizations

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

There is no doubt that in your warm and sincere gathering, there are many hearts full of words. Many have things to say that at least in their opinion are worth saying and hearing, and there is a place for those words in our meeting today. Alas, there is no time; otherwise, despite my old age and impatience, I would have listened to them. However, there is no opportunity now.

It is also good for the youth to get accustomed to swallowing their words; this is also a practice. In the great challenges of life, there are many times when a person has something to say and wishes to express it; however, for various reasons, they swallow their words. In some cases, this is a great expediency; get used to this as well; it is not bad. There will be opportunities in their own time, God willing, and you will say what you think needs to be said.

Setting aside the suggestions that your group of youth has expressed here - many of which are noteworthy and will be collected in our office so that, God willing, we can see how to deal with them - in my opinion, what is important for the student body of the country, considering the characteristics and features of students, is to understand where our country, Iran, stands in history and geography. We want to assume that the student, in the depths of their heart and in their youthful aspirations, has transcended personal issues, jobs, and such matters. Not that they do not want jobs, life, marriage, and housing - these are necessities of life - but in the sense that they do not remain confined and halted at these temporary and small stations; the young student’s mind soars from these points and seeks ideals. In an idealistic view - which must exist, and if it does not, there is no youth and life - where do we stand in terms of historical and geographical perspective and political geography? As the Islamic Republic of Iran, what is our message to the world?

Secondly, if we want this message to be accepted, what should we do? This is our main message to the students, and in my opinion, it is the main thought that the student community should pursue.

But to answer the first question of where we stand. In a short sentence, our place is to challenge the ugliness, hardships, and the sufferings that have arisen from the domination of wealth and power and the rule of financial corruption and authority in the world and at the international level; do not underestimate this. Today, the power of money has been able to co-opt the most delicate, subtle, and eloquent truths of the material world; this is the very art that our dear youth mentioned here. Today, the most prominent and powerful cinematic entity in the world is in Hollywood. You see what Hollywood serves, who it serves, what thought, direction, and dream it has for the unfortunate, developing humanity. I neither specialize in cinema nor do I know Hollywood well; I say this based on the words of those whose work is this, whose thoughts are this, and who critique these scenes and fields; they say that today cinematic art - which I cited Hollywood as the most prominent example; otherwise, the other cinematic entities in the world are the same - serves the propagation of vice, the propagation of emptiness, the propagation of human identitylessness, serves violence, and occupies the masses of nations against each other so that the elevated and upper class can live without worries. Cinema, which is a very advanced and modern art, is like this; poetry is the same; storytelling is the same; painting is the same; various branches of art are the same.

Economic powers also use religion; they use the church as well. A year or two ago, I read a book by an American author that has been translated and published here. In this book, he describes how powers utilize the church's apparatus and organization. When I mention the church, I do not mean to say that the mosque is not like that; no, power and money and wealth and force also utilize the mosque and spirituality. The dominance of money over the world is a very strange thing. The result of this is the immense global poverty, the hunger of billions of people, the wrong and anti-spiritual upbringing of the developing generations of humanity, the imposed wars on nations, and the manipulation of international organizations. The International Atomic Energy Agency is an example that has been mentioned, and everyone says it is one such example. This institution is affiliated with the United Nations and was created to oversee the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. You see how it interacts with countries; how its discrimination manifests; how political elements interfere in it; because wealth and power dominate it. These are the ugliness and great challenges of today’s world. Who will confront these? One person, one party, and one group cannot. What can stand against these deadly and crushing waves is a great collective international identity. Today, this great collective and international identity is taking shape; its axis is the Islamic Republic system. Reflect on these; these are not trivial and easy matters.

The reason for the lashes that are repeatedly inflicted on the unyielding body of the Islamic Republic is the same; because we stand firm; standing with hope; not standing in despair. Some stand firm and say we will give our last drop of blood. Of course, if it comes to that, we will give our last drop of blood; but we know it will not come to that.

We have advanced and have been able to visibly progress in the directions that the revolution has outlined for us. It is no joke that the centers of political power in the world assert that Iran has become a regional power and if we do not do certain things, it will become a global power? Is this a small matter? Do you think in this advanced, super-modern world of scientific advancement and all this accumulated wealth, it is a small matter for a political entity named religion and spirituality and justice, supported by the people, to emerge and attain such a position? This has happened today. The tent that stands here, the ropes and stakes that anchor this tent in the Islamic land, have been driven into other countries. We have strategic depth in various nations. God willing, when you enter broader arenas - travel to countries, be present among nations - you will feel this more. Today, the Islamic Republic has a place in the hearts of Muslim nations.

We have become accustomed to certain things. Iranian presidents travel to other countries. The popular reception of these presidents is not conceivable for any president from any country in any place other than their own country; this is a reality. When I traveled to foreign countries during my presidency, it was the same. The president after me, and the president after him also traveled to various countries, and the nations expressed love and affection towards them. This is not the art of this president; it is the art of this great movement; it is the art of this wave-making; it is the art of your identity; the identity of the Islamic Republic system; this is our dignity. We can challenge the false foundations that the concentrated economic powers of the devilish apparatus have created for themselves. In the world, they start wars, create famine, and generate crises. A capitalist suddenly creates a financial crisis in several countries. Do you remember four or five years ago when a Jewish and American capitalist residing in Europe with a specific and well-known name was able to bankrupt Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand? See the power of money. Therefore, economic powers can create crises. Creating crises, starting wars, and establishing cruel and hard-hearted systems - like Israel - is their work. These must be challenged. Who can do this? A living, tireless, collective international identity, relying on heartfelt and religious faith; this is what does not allow a person to become weary. Everything else can become weary, except for the freshness of religious faith. This can challenge and moderate those powers and ultimately eliminate them. God willing, in the government of justice of the Mahdi (peace be upon him) and (may God hasten his reappearance), these tasks will be accomplished; however, we can also prepare the groundwork; if we have determination, will, steadfastness, and wisdom. These tasks require both steadfastness and courage and power; they also require planning and intellect. These are not tasks that can be done easily and finished off just like that; but they are achievable and have been achieved until now. The Islamic Republic system, for which the nuclear issue has been resolved today - and of course, this is just one example; I have said this many times - is the same system that from the very first day it was established, the arrogant powers of the world neither imagined nor, if they had imagined, would have been satisfied with even a hair on their body that this country could progress scientifically. One of you youth mentioned that in the early days of the revolution, we had problems with professors in universities, we had problems with doctors, we had problems with specialists; but today the country is scientifically advanced. Of course, we should not lessen our aspirations. The amount we have advanced is very little compared to what should have advanced and compared to our capabilities.

A few days ago, there was a meeting of professors here. Several professors from various fields and disciplines emphasized the same thing that has always been my firm belief that the capacity and capability of the Islamic Republic system is greater than this. We can; this is our position. Today, if you see that they are working against us, plotting, and attacking, it is because of this position. This answers the first question.

The second question; how can we succeed in this challenge? This is something that relates a lot to you youth. The powers that we must create in various sectors, first and foremost, is scientific power. Universities are responsible in this regard. One of the gentlemen here said that we should propose a disarmament treaty instead of the non-proliferation treaty - which is the NPT - in the world. This is a very good and interesting idea; it is very easy to say; but an international treaty is not formed just by saying among a few people; it requires a supporting force to turn it into an international treaty. America and the former Soviet Union - the two top powers of that day - sat down and agreed on disarmament; but because there was no will to act, it did not happen. Who can propose a treaty as a disarmament treaty, place it in the middle, and obligate the countries of the world to adhere to this treaty? - of course, not necessarily by force of arms, but by the force of politics, by the force of the dominant cultural discourse, by the force of the predominance of national identity and character - a powerful country.

Gain power. If the Islamic Republic of Iran can bring its scientific discourse to the level of the world’s leading voices, it is achievable; because science also creates wealth, creates military power, and creates self-confidence. I have said many times, I will say it again, and I will emphasize again and again that the foundation and basis of your future power as a dear nation lies in scientific power.

Universities must be taken seriously; both you students and professors. Know that there are plans to incapacitate our universities. You worry that the budget for research centers is delayed; very well, this can be compensated; it can be pursued. There are those who plot and conspire to completely close the doors of classrooms and research workshops and to make students indifferent to knowledge and learning. This conspiracy must be fought against. This struggle is the responsibility of the government and officials, it is also the responsibility of your organizations, and it is also the responsibility of influential and powerful elements.

O Lord! Make our hearts more familiar and closer to You in this month of Ramadan. O Lord! Preserve the radiance that You have bestowed upon the hearts of the youth and have blended the youth with clarity and spirituality, always for our dear youth of the Islamic country. O Lord! Grant the prayers of our youth; fulfill their wishes. O Lord! Increase the bond between our good student youth and the youth of other countries - which was mentioned by one of the friends, and I want to confirm this in the form of a prayer - day by day.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.