Statements in Meeting with Elite and Top Scientific Talents

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and his pure family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

I am truly grateful to the Almighty God that, thanks be to God, after the easing of the Corona problem, this lively, vibrant, and hopeful meeting was held once again; truly, your presence, especially you elite youth, is a creator of hope; that is, your presence in any place creates and generates hope. This is why those who are not in favor of the country's progress are not in favor of your presence where you should be. Well, thanks be to God.

I would like to say a sentence about the topics that friends mentioned; firstly, very good points were made, I truly benefited from them, and it seems to me that the suggestions made are correct and mostly practical; and from here, one understands more that many of our problems in these past years have been managerial problems; solutions existed, but the managements did not address those solutions. Now we hope that this current government, God willing, will pursue it seriously, as signs of it are being seen. Here, several ministers and the vice president are present, they should raise these in the government, and I will also convey them; that is, now these topics that were given to me will be reviewed in the office, and then, God willing, we will convey them to the president himself and the set of government officials.

The topic I have prepared to discuss today consists of two or three headings that I will try to discuss briefly. One is about the elite; the title of elite, the subject of elite; I want to mention two or three points in this regard about who the elite is and what they do. Another heading is the expectations from the elite; now that we have recognized who the elite is, what expectations do we have from the country's elites. The next heading is what expectations we have from the institutions to help the elite; because the elite is a young person; they need help, support, and backing; the type of these supports should be specified. I will briefly mention each of these. I also have a point in mind at the end that I will mention.

Regarding the scientific elite and generally the elite, firstly, we must know and we do know — I truly believe in this and everyone must know this — that the elite is one of the most important human resources of the country; yes, the country's natural resources are important, geographical positions are important, climatic forms are important, all these are important, but one of the most important is the existence of the elite; the elite should be considered a great wealth. When we consider it a great wealth, we strive to produce it, we consider its loss a loss, and as much as possible, we prevent it from being lost and will treat it with dignity; when we understand it is a great and important wealth, our behavior with it will be shaped accordingly. Therefore, we must know this, everyone must know; the country's officials and those influential in the public space of the country.

The scientific elite and essentially the university are among the pillars of the country's progress; that is, a major pillar of the country's progress is the university, and in the university, mainly the scientific elites. What you see at various times, not just now or yesterday, efforts have been made to close universities, to close classes, for children not to go to class, for professors not to go, and such actions, stem from this; because the university has a fundamental role. Now, the one who threatens the professor by phone that if you go, such and such will happen, it is not clear if he is the main agent; the important agent is behind the scenes. This is because the university is important, the university is vital for the country's progress. The more they can cripple, close, ruin, or impair the university, the more it is beneficial for the enemies of the country and the enemies of the country's progress. So, therefore, the university is one of the pillars of the country's progress.

The university is one of the greatest obstacles against the domination of global arrogance; we must know this. The goal of the powerful global powers is domination; by what means? One day with weapons, one day with deception, one day with science; they also gain domination with science. The university prevents domination; that is, if you can raise the country's level of science, you have created a barrier against the enemy's domination. Well; this is a point about scientific elites and the university.

Another point is that one element in creating an elite is their natural talent; good thinking, a good mind, a good brain, which is a divine gift; this is not anyone's work, God has given this; now why God has given it is another discussion. The Almighty God has given our elite a strong brain, good thinking, necessary readiness, and open eyes; this is one element. The second element for someone to become an elite is their effort and endeavor, their own work; otherwise, many have this divine gift, but they do not work, they do not strive, they do not endeavor, they do not reach anywhere; neither do they grow themselves, nor do they help the country. We have not had few of this kind, we still have them now, in the past, there were even more. So, therefore, the second element for creating an elite is related to themselves, and that is effort, endeavor, work, perseverance, and the like. These are two elements. There is also a third element that I will mention later; in this talk, I will mention it later.

Well; an important factor for this elite, composed of these elements, to be able to manifest that inherent talent and find the opportunity to strive is the environment; the environment for the elite's effort; this is very important. Sometimes there is an elite, ready to work, but the environment is not provided for them. Well, this environment that we said should be created did not exist during the tyrant's era; if it did, it was not part of the tyrant's official policies; the environment did not exist. Many had good talents, were ready to strive, and even strived, but they were suppressed; not only was the environment not provided for them, but even anti-work was done against them; it was like this during the tyrant's era. Thanks to the Islamic Revolution, the environment was provided. See; I say this with clarity and courage, meaning it is something that cannot be doubted, because from the beginning of the revolution I was present in the student and university community, in Tehran University and other universities, I was constantly sitting and rising with professors and students and the like, with all belief and with the ability to prove this, I say that with the Islamic Revolution, the environment for nurturing elites was provided.

Firstly, the expansion of universities; see where in the country now does not have a university. Now some friends complained that universities have been established in some places without the necessary groundwork; well, then there was a motivation to create universities; this is very important. There are universities everywhere in the country. Some universities in distant cities are prominent universities; one can understand this; very good professors, prominent, excellent professors are in universities in such distant cities; we have examples of this. Well, this is from the expansion of universities.

Then also the university community; the expansion of the university domain; both students and professors. The students of the country — now I have repeatedly mentioned this statistic, but I do not remember exactly now; when I was taking notes, the resources were not at my disposal — have grown about 25 times; 25 times. It is a lot.

Professors; in the early years of the revolution — those years around 1980, 1981 — when we were discussing university issues, as far as I remember, there were about five thousand professors, faculty members in the country; now it is over one hundred thousand; now it is over one hundred thousand. The population of the country has more than doubled, but this has increased twentyfold; these are important. These statistics are very telling, very eloquent. What has the revolution done?

Well, the abundance of research institutes in the country; think tanks, research centers, research institutes. These are abundant in many parts of the country. This development of science in the country is a very valuable thing. This is the environment for nurturing elites; one of the environments for nurturing elites is this. Of course, we must thank the university community itself; our university community did not let us remain dependent on the West. Because when a country has a university but no professors, one of the things that comes to mind is to bring professors from outside; but our university community did not allow it; they trained professors. Now perhaps ninety percent of today's professors, their generation is trained by our own university professors; they worked, they strived. Well, the Islamic Republic wanted the university to be expanded, to be capable, and this, thanks be to God, was done, and the university also took advantage of this historical opportunity and developed itself. This is one point.

Another point is that without exaggeration, we must say that our university elites have become a source of pride for Iran. You are the young generation of elites. Before you, in the generations before you, there were many elites in these forty years; they gave pride to the country. In every issue that our scientists entered and focused on, they did something that was praised in the world's scientific circles. Now let me mention a few examples here, which of course all of you also know.

For example, the research and achievements of the Royan Institute, not only in the issue of stem cells but also in the cloning of living animals, was a rare thing in the world; this happened. I myself saw that living animal; this is not a report, I went and saw that produced living animal up close. It was not just one, there were several; we saw these; well, this was not a small task. God's mercy on Kazemi Ashtiani, who laid this foundation, and then these brothers who are now continued it and reached here; this is one example.

Progress in biochemistry and obtaining a UNESCO chair in this field; they themselves admitted it. You know in these international chairs, one of the main tasks of our enemies is to interfere, infiltrate, and prevent Iran from getting a chair and becoming a member; despite this, our elites achieved this victory.

Or another example, the transfer of satellites to space; this belongs to a few countries, not all countries have this. Many have satellites in space, but they are not theirs, they did not launch them themselves. Those who launch them themselves are a limited number of countries. We are of course behind, but we launched, we could, we went; our scientists focused. Now this brother of ours mentioned a bit about space here that these works have been done. [Another example:] The construction of humanoid robots at Tehran University; it is important. Why should we ignore these?

Fundamental achievements in the nuclear industry. This nuclear industry issue is a long story; there are many words in this regard that now is not the time to say. We have achieved fundamental issues in the nuclear industry. We do not pursue weapons and bombs and the like, but this industry itself has many blessings; we were able to achieve it. Of course, those who have the nuclear industry today, except for the initial producers who belonged to Germany during Hitler's time, which the Americans took from them, some others were able to obtain it with some types of scientific theft from the Americans, then that country gave it to its like-minded country, then that country [to another]; those who have [nuclear knowledge] obtained it this way. We did not, of course, the very incomplete initial groundwork was from outside, it was a very insignificant thing, but the work that has been done, the Iranian elite has done; the Iranian elite did it with power, with hope.

The construction of advanced missile and drone equipment, which a few years ago they said these are photoshopped! When their photos were published, they said this is photoshopped; now they say that Iranian drones are very dangerous! Why do you sell them to so-and-so, give them to so-and-so. Well, these are works that the Iranian elite has done; these are a source of pride for the country. The construction of complex vaccines, especially the Corona vaccine and the like; we do not have few. Well, this is also a point that the Iranian elite has been able to give pride to the country; to give pride to the country. I say these so that you who are elite know your worth, those who are sitting outside also know your worth; now I know your worth very much; God willing, we can help you.

But that third element: I mentioned two elements, I said there is a third element; what is that third element for being elite and becoming elite and being considered elite? That is divine guidance and success. Without a doubt, for you to become elite and be considered elite, you need divine success and divine guidance. Merely having talent and using this talent does not make one elite. It is possible for someone to be very intelligent and clever, to use this cleverness, this intelligence for embezzlement! Do they not do it? Or to use it for theft; is this elite? No, this is a thief; this is an embezzler; this is not elite. Elite is someone who is truly chosen; elite means selected; elite means chosen and distinguished. Is this clever thief who can open various complex car locks and steal and take the car, a distinguished person? No, this is a thief; this is not elite. Elite is someone who pursues this movement with divine success and advances with divine guidance.

Well, now I will expand a bit on this issue of the thief and embezzler; I say that someone who becomes a genius in physics and makes an atomic bomb, in our view, is not elite. Someone who uses chemical knowledge to make mustard gas and chemical gases that afflict people for life, is not elite. Someone who, with progress in mathematics and advanced engineering, can seize space — both the very high space and the living space of people — meaning you are not sure even inside your home when you are talking that a foreign ear is listening to your words; not just the mobile phone, no, there are other ways too. This is not elite; someone who misuses knowledge in this way is not elite.

During the colonial era, Westerners — first it started with Portugal and Spain and the like, then gradually reached other places [like] the Netherlands and Belgium and England and France; — well, they were able to access weapons earlier than others; that is, the industrial revolution, for example, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, one of the first things it did was to make advanced weapons. Well, with these advanced weapons, they came and seized countries. India, a country with such greatness, with tens of times the geographical area of the island of England — [of course] not just India; India and Pakistan and today's Bangladesh, [meaning] the Indian subcontinent — they came and seized, seized the surrounding countries like Myanmar and the like, destroyed the national industries of these countries. You read this book 'Glimpses of World History' by Nehru. Unfortunately, you read few books; this 'Glimpses of World History' is written by Nehru; he has described the quality of the British entry into India and what they did in India.

I recently saw a book that one of our own writers — whom I am not familiar with closely — wrote, called 'The Story of Colonialism'; fifteen or sixteen volumes of 150-page, 120-page books; it explains how colonialism was able to destroy the wealth of these continents in America and Asia and enrich itself. England was not wealthy, France was not wealthy, European countries were not wealthy; they took the wealth of other countries. Well, they were able to do such things with weapons. They had creative minds, it is true; they also worked hard; they were risk-takers; these are good characteristics of Europeans but what did they use these characteristics for? Creating a system of domination in the world; the system of domination. One of the great calamities of today's world that has not yet ended and God willing will end, is the system of domination. The system of domination means the world is divided into dominators and dominated; a number of people must certainly rule the whole world powerfully, and other countries must obey them under various covers; this is the system of domination. This system of domination was created by Europe's scientific progress. Well, then elite as a value description does not include these.

Elite as a value description is that hardworking, diligent person with talent who has benefited from divine guidance; sometimes they themselves do not know that this is divine guidance, but it is divine guidance. These amazing moments and moments when the great discoverers of the world discovered a truth, are God's work; these are the same divine guidance; they discover gravity, they discover microbes; these are the same divine guidance.

Well, now you dear young people, fortunately, your hearts are not polluted; you are young, a young person may have transgressions but your hearts are pure, your conscience is bright, you can benefit greatly from this divine guidance. So [you should] be able to become elite in the true sense of the word; that is, having talent, having effort, and benefiting from divine guidance and success, which of course "And whoever believes in God, He will guide his heart"; faith brings guidance with it. Well, these few words about the elite.

But the expectation from the elite; we also have expectations from you. I will try to say it briefly if possible, God willing. The first expectation is to turn the superior capacity that the Almighty God has given you — which is your personal capacity — into a national capacity. Thanks be to God, this was in your statements that the elite should turn this personal ability into a national ability; what does it mean? It means to put this ability in the service of solving the country's issues. We have many issues; now you mentioned a few of them here, you mentioned mining, you mentioned transportation, you mentioned space; these are important issues of the country; use your elite status in these areas. Unfortunately, some do not do this; some elites — meaning those with talent; now with the explanation we gave, perhaps the term "elite" is not correct for them — grow here, when it is time to bear fruit, they go and give their fruit to another; sometimes that other is the enemy, they give it to the enemy; sometimes they go and become a cog in the wheel of global arrogance for the seizure of nations and enmity with nations, they become his tool, they become his cog; some are like this. Well, these are ungrateful; and of course, they do not see good in the end; I think those who turn their backs on their own people like this do not see good. The elite must stay with their own people. I do not say do not migrate, do not study, do not go to such and such a top university or such and such a center; no, go but go for your people, go to return here to work for your country, do not go to become a tool and cog for him. Well, this is a very important matter; our elites must solve this issue in the presence of their conscience and in the presence of God.

Another expectation from the elites is not to be negligent. There are two kinds of negligence here: one is negligence of one's own abilities. If you are negligent of your own abilities, you will no longer strive. Some of our elites stop when they reach a certain level; this is ungratefulness, this is negligence. Follow, advance, continue the effort as much as possible; do not be negligent of your own ability which is infinite. The ability is infinite; meaning it is such that the more you use this elite ability, the more this spring will gush within you, you will become more elite; the more you work, the more it will become. Do not get tired, do not stop, do not become captive to harmful entertainments. There are harmful entertainments, this is one negligence, whether in virtual space or non-virtual; do not become captive to these entertainments.

Another negligence is negligence of the country's capacities. Now you friends came and each of you spoke about your field and work; well, your information is very good, we benefit from it; but are you aware of other fields? Are the country's elites aware of the country's vast and extensive capacities? I do not think so; I know that no, not everyone is aware; most are not aware.

One day, a gentleman said that in terms of weapons we are zero against America, it can, for example, in an hour do such and such; I said here that organize a tour, let these gentlemen go and see our military weapons, see our defense industries to get out of this mistake; now this tour should be organized for all of you. One of the important tasks is this. In my opinion, one of the tasks of the scientific deputy is this. Familiarize the children with what exists in the country; the capacities that exist and the many works that are being done. I know that many are not aware; some even deny these capacities, like that ignorant king; they told one of the kings that a foul-smelling, black, ominous substance called oil has gushed from some places, these foreigners, poor things, are willing to come and take it away; let's allow them to take it away; he also said: very well, let them take it so we can be relieved! Now they also tell us that there is a troublesome, problematic thing called the nuclear industry in the country that let them collect it and take it away, let it not remain. They say this! It is falsely claimed that the world has turned away from the nuclear industry and nuclear energy; pure lie! Day by day they are adding to their nuclear bases — not military bases, [but] industrial bases — they are increasing them. We also need it. The day we started — which has been years now — if we had not started, we would have had to start ten years later and get results thirty years later; meaning this is not something a country can ignore. Well, now this is also from this [matter].

Another negligence is negligence of the enemy. Our elites should not be negligent of the enemy either. The enemy sometimes comes forward as a scientific figure. I am aware; what I say is information, not guesswork and analysis. Many of these scientific centers that invite professors, sometimes students, the members they have infiltrated into that scientific board, are CIA and Mossad security members and the like as scientific figures. They sit and establish connections. Now where these connections lead to, only God knows; at the very least, they corrupt his mind. If they cannot attract him, if they cannot deceive him, at the very least, they corrupt his mind. The enemy enters this way. They present themselves as polite, as intelligent, then it turns out that they are taking our hat.

But the expectations we have from the institutions for the elite are an important part. In one word: support. We expect the institutions to support the elites. This support is not always in the form of giving money. Sometimes giving money is harmful; support [should be] wise, prudent, and with attention to various aspects.

One of the aspects of support is that whether the elite has studied in Iran or the elite has studied abroad and come to Iran — we have such cases, we do not have few elites who have studied abroad and reached a place and now have come to Iran — they have two expectations; we should fulfill these two expectations for them: one expectation is employment suitable to their knowledge; one expectation is the possibility of continuing research; connection with the world's scientific centers; these are the two expectations of our elites, it is not a lot. I am aware that an elite wants to enter the university faculty, [but] with various tricks they prevent him and do not let him; why? Why do you not use this elite? Some of our elites — prominent elites — have studied abroad, have come here hoping they can work, [but] due to these behaviors, they have returned and left! They have seen that it is not possible to live here. Well, what expectation should I have from this young person? We must support. In this area, whatever we spend, it is not a cost, it is an investment. The honorable ministers must certainly work in this area, strive. Do not let the elite become disappointed with the university; now at least he can enter the university, find a position. Some beat the drum for the elite, constantly saying elites, elites, but in practice, they disappoint the elite, discourage them, create obstacles. In my opinion, regarding connection with the world's scientific centers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be active, can help significantly.

Another point that is expected is to correct the criteria for evaluating the elite. Today, the criteria for evaluating professors and elites and others are mostly articles; this is not correct. Of course, I have said this before, I have repeated it many times; make the criteria problem-solving. Present the problem, ask them to solve it; this group, this elite person, this elite professor, should solve a problem for the relevant institutions; this should be the criterion for promotion, this should be the criterion for acceptance as a top rank; this is also a point.

Another point is that a bright horizon should be shown to our elites. Some discourage the elite, show the horizon as dark; this is contrary to reality; the horizon is bright, it should be shown, they should be encouraged. Both the professor, the higher education managers, and the activists working in the media — whether national media, or the press — whether the owners of industries and knowledge-based companies, which some friends mentioned here, should make the atmosphere an exciting space for the elites. Today, discouraging the elites and showing them as having no future, in my opinion, is part of the enemy's soft war. The enemy's effort is to show the country's elites as having no future. Now I say this that there is a weakness in the country, not that we deny the weaknesses; there are many weaknesses, but the strengths should be seen alongside the weaknesses. The enemy tries to exaggerate our weaknesses, to cover our strengths; we should not let it, we should not help the enemy in this regard.

These are our final remarks. I want to say about this horizon and how to correct the horizon, from the early days of the Islamic Revolution, Westerners in their propaganda made it seem that the Islamic Republic system, which was created as a result of the revolution, is on the decline; from the very first days [they said] it is on the decline. Sometimes they said two months later, sometimes they said a year later, sometimes they said five years later; they set a time! Unfortunately, some inside — now either out of negligence, some also out of malice — promoted this. During Imam's time, a newspaper, which I will not name, wrote a detailed article, I think they also put a headline — one of those big front-page headlines — the gist of which was, now I do not remember the exact words, that in summary, the system is collapsing! Imam at that time responded, said: you yourselves are collapsing; the system is standing firm and strong. Not that now because it was Imam and Imam's awe prevented it, no, during Imam's time they also said.

After Imam's passing, in 1990, some of the reputable figures — [meaning] there were reputable people among them, well-known faces of the system and reputable who had a work history in the system — issued a statement that the system is on the edge of the abyss, meaning it is about to end! When? 1990. In 2003, a number of parliament members wrote a letter to me; it was a really unfair letter, very unfair. They said some things, asked us some questions that they themselves should have answered; because both the parliament was in their hands, and the government was in their hands; they should have answered, [but] they asked me! At that time, the gist of that letter and its summary was that you must surrender otherwise your work is over! It was from 2003. We did not surrender, we stood firm and God willing we will continue to stand firm. Well, this was the work of our enemies who repeatedly did this.

What I think we should look at in this regard is to see what our analysis of the situation is; make a correct analysis. There are two analytical systems: one analytical system is that work against the universal norms is futile; it is of no use. There are international norms, governments have been formed based on these norms, have gained power; powerful and wealthy America has been formed based on these norms, Europe the same way, others the same way; do not stand against these norms in vain; you will be destroyed. This is one analysis. [They do not] say this only today; as I said, they have been saying these things continuously for forty years. At that time, those who make this analysis consider others delusional! They say these are delusional — for example, me; at the top of them myself — [they say] these are delusional thinking it is progressing. This is one analysis.

Another analysis is realistic. This analysis sees the realities; not only the good realities, [but] also sees the bad realities. We have never denied the negative points. I remind the most weaknesses in meetings with officials, in these sessions that are held during Ramadan where we invite all of them, I remind the most weaknesses; in private sessions much more. And attention to these weaknesses exists, not that it does not; I have said many times we are behind; there is no doubt about this, but the other side of the issue is that we have started a rapid movement from the end of the caravan and now we have reached close to the front; this is a reality. We have not yet reached the front but we have advanced a lot, we will advance more. We have progressed in various issues of the country; we have progressed in knowledge, we have progressed in management; weaknesses exist; some of our officials, some of our governments have had shortcomings; these exist but the movement is the movement of the revolution, the progress of the revolution.

Look and see where the Islamic Republic was forty years ago, where it is today; where it was twenty years ago, where it is today. With the passage of four decades, it can be understood which of these two analyses is realistic; the analysis of the Westerners and the Westerners is realistic, and we are delusional; or not, the analysis of the revolution is realistic, they are delusional. This is the reality of the matter. The movement of the revolution is a strong movement; you young people are one of the greatest signs of it. You are now an elite group [and] not only you are elite, there are other elites too; great elites, believing in the revolution, believing in this path, striving and serious, after four decades and after all this enmity and after all this propaganda; is there a better reason than this to show that that analysis is a wrong analysis and the correct analysis is the analysis of the revolution?

O Lord! Keep us steadfast on Your path. O Lord! With Your guidance and Your success, bring us to complete movement on the right path. O Lord! Defeat and subdue the enemies of the Iranian nation by the Iranian nation.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings