A group of young Iranian medal winners at international scientific competitions met with Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran on Sunday.
The brilliant young students, who are also volunteer members of the Basij Force, offered 22 medals they won in the international mathematics, physics and computer Olympiads to Imam Khamenei as a gift.
The Leader praised the young medal winners and described the achievement of top scientific titles as signifying the talents and scientific progress of the Islamic Revolution's youths.
"These signs and progresses are the very things that add to the country's internal power and might," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Leader highlighted the major role of academics and scientific centers to counter enemies’ hostile plot, calling for a push to continue scientific progress in the country.
The Leader also hailed Iran's success to gain the world’s 16th position in the ranking of scientific powers, describing that as a result of some 10-15 years of incessant efforts in the country’s universities and scientific centers.
Imam Khamenei, however, criticized a recent slowdown in Iran’s scientific acceleration, urging the officials to double efforts to quicken the pace of the country’s scientific development.