Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on all scientists and authorities to make all-out efforts to help accelerate the country's progress in the fields of science and technology.
"The country's progress should not slow or stop, but rather continue and gain momentum so that we can reach the pinnacle of scientific growth," he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei was speaking in a meeting in Tehran with senior officials and academics, including scholars from the Cognitive Sciences and Technologies Council, which supports basic, applied and advanced technology research, his official website reported.
The Leader said many positive steps have been taken toward this goal over the past years, but cautioned against complacency.
"Every scientific discovery … paves the way for great and new developments in the lives of humans. So a nation that lags behind others scientifically and technologically is destined to remain backward, will be looked down upon and would be exploited by world powers," he added.
That is why authorities and researchers should take this issue seriously and work "day and night" to help the country make further advancements, he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that he is aware of budgetary issues facing cultural and scientific centers, but stressed that the country can reach new heights of success against all odds.
"I believe that if a country is determined, it can do great things despite political and economic problems."
His comments were an apparent reference to the sanctions reimposed on Iran after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in May, which have negatively affected the economy and the country's international collaborations in different fields.
