Gov’t Eyes Academic Solutions to Problems

President Ebrahim Raisi said his administration will always rely on academic thought at the level of universities to find solutions to the society’s problems. 
“The government sees universities as its think thank and expects these academic centers to come to its aid with their ideas and initiatives,” he said at a ceremony to mark the beginning of the new academic year at the female-only Alzahra University in Tehran on Saturday, President.ir reported.
Addressing university students’ employment concerns is a duty of the government on the other hand, he stressed. 
“You devote all your will and efforts on research and the government will do all in its power to satisfy your requirements,” he said. 
The president described knowledge as an important parameter for a country’s power and capability, saying Iran has reached high levels of power today thanks to the hard work of its students and professors. 
“At a time, the country needed to import barbed wire and was denied, but today we have achieved stunning progress in various scientific and industrial sectors despite the most extensive sanctions,” he said, adding that this course will continue. 
He later addressed girl students, saying they now comprise nearly 60% of all Iranian university learners thanks to their spirit of research and knowledge-acquisition together with patience and perseverance. 
The president noted that in the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many women have made notable success in universities and have even demonstrated their capabilities at international level. 
“When a highly-educated Iranian woman presents a scientific achievement at global level … and the flag of Iran is raised and the national anthem is sung, this brings power for the country,” he said. 
Raisi also pointed to recent unrest in some universities, highlighting the traces of enemies in the unhappy developments. 
“The enemy thought it could pursue its goals through universities and was unaware that our students and professors are awake and would not let their vain fantasies come true,” he said. 
The Iranian university community will certainly have the enemies fail in the scientific field like all other sectors, he stressed. 
The president finally elaborated on his administration’s logic in negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and have sanctions on Iranian economy removed. 
“We declared from the first day that we would not leave the negotiating table, but will adhere to honorable talks only, and today this logic is accepted by the world.” 
Talks in Vienna, Austria aim to restore the deal that lifted sanctions on Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, but went out of shape when the United States pulled out and reimposed tough economic restrictions. 
Before Raisi’s address, ministers of health and science, as well as representatives of students and professors, took the podium to congratulate the beginning of the academic year and wished the newly admitted students success.