Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that scientific progress can help make the country less vulnerable to threats and pressure from the enemy that seeks to paint Iran in a negative light.
"Presenting a wrong, negative and disappointing image of the situation in Iran is high on the enemy's agenda. However, the true image of the country is the exact opposite of what the world arrogant power [the United States] is trying to convey," the Leader told a gathering of intellectuals and scholars in Tehran, his official website reported.
The reality is that tens of thousands of skilled and educated people are contributing to the development of the country in various fields, which is a great source of hope for the future, he said, underlining the importance of scientific achievements.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that using the knowledge and capabilities of intellectuals will help the country progress scientifically, which will eventually help elevate its status and reduce its vulnerability.
"It will also result in reduced threats from the Islamic Republic's political and economic enemies," he added.
>Practical Solutions
While acknowledging the economic pressure on ordinary Iranians as a result of sanctions, the Leader said experts should make efforts to help find practical solutions to existing issues to improve the situation.
"There are currency fluctuations and livelihood problems," he said, referring to the disarray in the foreign currency market and the sharp fall in the value of the national currency, which have led to sporadic demonstrations and strikes across the country in recent months.
"The Iranian youth should not remain indifferent to the economic and political warfare campaign launched by the enemy and its efforts to undermine Iran's security," he said, adding that they should particularly help reduce the economy's heavy reliance on oil.
Washington reintroduced steps against Iran's currency trade, metals and auto sectors in August after US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a multinational 2015 deal that lifted sanctions in return for limits on Tehran's nuclear program.
US curbs on the country's oil exports—the lifeblood of its economy—are set to come into force in November.
Ayatollah Khamenei said tangible steps should be taken to implement the guidelines stipulated in the "Resistance Economy" policy, which calls for supporting domestic production and reducing dependence on petrodollars.
>Scientific Cooperation
The country should move toward a "knowledge-based" economy, the Leader said, calling for cooperation with other nations who have made an enormous scientific leap forward in the recent past.
"These countries are mainly in Asia so we should look to the East, not the West. Looking to the West, including Europe, will only result in a long wait and humiliation," he said.
He also urged officials to provide facilities and services to the country's intellectuals and address their needs so that they can focus on scientific and research activities.
Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei's speech, a number of officials and intellectuals expressed their views and concerns about a range of issues in the fields of science and technology.
