-- Ayatollah Khamenei the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution met Tuesday morning with the officials and professors of the University of Tehran.

Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence described knowledge as the genuine base of Iran's progress and power and reiterated: "According to Islamic and Quranic teachings, Islamic Iran has a responsibility to humanity. And fulfilling this responsibility necessitates genuine power."

Ayatollah Khamenei rejected all kinds of expansionism and added: "The kind of power that can help solve the problems of the human community will not be gained through military means, production power, and technology. This power depends on two factors: Knowledge and religious faith."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the important advances of the past three decades are the result of "freedom and freedom of thought", further reiterating: "If the Pahlavi regime had survived, it would have been impossible to achieve these advances because it is not possible to achieve scientific progress under dictatorial and dependant systems of government."

Ayatollah Khamenei said that "prosperity for Iran and the human community" and realizing the dreams of humanity are the ultimate goals of the scientific progress that Islam and the Islamic Republic seek to achieve. He added that it is necessary to adopt a spiritual view of knowledge. "But knowledge is currently at the service of injustice and oppressive powers," he noted.

His Eminence stated that "armed injustice" is a fact of the modern world. "The widespread propaganda that relies on modern technologies and the incessant plots hatched against the Islamic Republic are among the signs of the armed modern injustice whose existence currently depends on science. And the Islamic Republic has been the focus of aggression because of opposing this injustice."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that separating the academic world from religion and religious teachings was one of the sins committed by the Pahlavi regime and added: "Strengthening religious teachings in the pure hearts and souls of our young students guarantees the insight and prosperity of our people, and such responsibilities should be shouldered by university officials."

His Eminence touched on his long-held belief regarding the need for political dynamism in universities and added: "If universities keep away from politics, they will lose their dynamism. But this does not mean that centers of knowledge should turn into a place that can be used by political movements and elements."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that university officials should prevent political movements from taking advantage of universities. He further stated that ignoring this duty may turn the political atmosphere of scientific and academic centers into an opportunity for the enemies to advance their goals.

Ayatollah Khamenei also thanked the head and academics of the University of Tehran for offering him an honorary doctorate degree. "The kind offer of the academics is an honor for me, but I cannot accept it." He added that he will remain committed to his religious studies at Islamic seminaries.

Source: Khamenei.ir