Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has criticized the country's reliance on oil and underground resources and urged authorities to take advantage of the talent and capabilities of the young generation as the driving force behind development.
Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Rather than dependence on oil revenues, we should rely on the intelligence and talent of young people … when that happens, no power in the world could undermine the country's economy," according to the website of the Leader's office.
Addressing a gathering of young scientists and academics in Tehran on Wednesday, the Leader stressed that the country's economic planning should be free from fluctuating oil prices, adding that a country whose economy relies too heavily on oil revenues could have "a bleak future".
Elsewhere, he said any pause in the country's scientific progress would be a "backward step".
He added despite many scientific achievements that have been made in various fields, "Iran has not been able to reach its rightful place in terms of advances in science."
"It is necessary to continue our scientific movement through strengthening knowledge-based companies as well as a knowledge-based economy."
