In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate and infallible household, especially the one remaining with Allah on earth

My dear ones, today's meeting is one of the sweetest meetings for me. The first reason is that this is a meeting with the great society of teachers. Both teachers and student-teachers – the future teachers of the country – are present here. And the second reason is that this place is the one of the places where the dignified class of teachers are cultivated. I meet with teachers every year and this meeting is very valuable to me because it has a symbolic significance and it is held with the purpose of respecting teachers. This year, the meeting which is usually held in Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah has been merged into this meeting so that the symbolic significance of this meeting will increase. The purpose is to respect both teachers and the university which cultivates teachers.

Before I begin my statements, I would like to point to the statements of our dear sister and our dear brothers who delivered speeches. The statements which were made were good statements and I confirm them. I have written down some of the things which were said. I ask them to write down what they said and then give it to us. By Allah's favor, they will be followed up as much as possible. Good and reasonable points were raised.

Well, Imam (may God bestow paradise on him) once said, "Teaching is the occupation of the prophets." This is not merely a spirit-lifting slogan, rather this is a Quranic truth: "Send among them a messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Your signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom" [The Holy Quran, 2: 129]. One of the characteristics of the prophets was teaching. This means that you are taking a path which was taken by the best humans in the history of humanity. Those individuals – the prophets - were sent to achieve that goal. 

The unique impact and role of public education in the progress and happiness of the country is an extraordinarily important issue. In my opinion, this is an obvious matter although some people do not unfortunately understand this obvious issue correctly: the educational system and public education is the main infrastructure for the bliss of a nation and the progress of a country and in the Islamic Republic, this is a movement towards ideals.

The important responsibility of all of us – including this humble person, government officials and interconnected managers in different divisions – is that we should introduce the position of teachers in society. This has not been done. The position and status of teachers is not correctly understood in society the way I believe, feel and experience it. Of course, the issue of teacher's livelihood problems is important – there is no doubt about this – but the issue of teachers' position is definitely not less important, if not more important, than the issue of their livelihood problems. And this is not achieved only by talking. If I say that teaching enjoys such a lofty position and that it enjoys the same status as that of the prophets, this will not shape public mentality in the country. So, this is not achieved only by talking. This requires work.

Public opinion should fully understand that teachers are a reference point and that they have lofty characters. It should understand that teaching is a holy vocation. This should be done with artistic tasks, by writing books, making films, composing poetry and adopting all sorts of effective methods. These tasks have not been carried out until today. One of the fundamental tasks that should definitely be pursued in the educational system and in other relevant environments – cultural environments, the IRIB and other places – is this issue. It should become clear what position teaching enjoys. Respecting teachers should become a reality. This should be included in school materials and in writing stories and novels.

Well, the points that I want to discuss with you today are divided in two, three points. Because, the meeting has lasted long already, I will try to mention them briefly: one is about the issue of education, another is about the issues related to the Farhangian University [teacher education university] and the issue of building teachers, and after that, I will raise a few points about the international issues which we are involved with in the present time. In the beginning of his speech, the honorable Minister pointed to these issues as well.

What I want to say about education is that the educational system of the country should be oriented towards administering justice. Our educational system and our educational organizations should cultivate individuals on the basis of justice. Students should be cultivated in a way that they pursue and build justice. This is because justice is a lofty value that has been pursued by all humans since the beginning of the history of humankind until today. Values change with the passage of time and with a change in generations, but some values are fixed from the beginning to the end. One of these values is justice. Notice that the religions which believe in Mahdaviat [the belief in the emergence of a savior which will free the world of oppression and darkness] – almost all religions believe in Mahdaviat – think that the savior should come and imbue the world with justice. They do not say that he should imbue the world with religion, rather they say that he should fill it with justice. This shows the significance of justice.

Our educational system should have such an orientation. The Commander of the Faithful (greetings be upon him) says in Nahjul Balaghah, "If there had been no pledge of Allah with the learned to the effect that they should not acquiesce in the gluttony of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed, I would have cast the rope of Caliphate on its own shoulders" [Sermon 3]. This sermon mentions the responsibility of the learned. It mentions that the learned should not tolerate the hunger of the poor and the greed of the rich.  Justice means this.

The educational system and the public education of the country has certain goals. It is pursuing certain goals. What are these goals? These goals are exactly the same goals that the Islamic government pursues. So, they should exist in the educational system and they should receive attention. We are cultivating university and school students with a certain goal and ideal. This goal is the same one for which the Islamic government was established. The Islamic government wants to build a world and a society which plays a pioneering role, which has lofty values, which is pious, which is committed to divine sharia and which has endless horizons. The individuals who live in the Islamic society and in the Islamic government have no limits for the future. They have no limits in any direction, not just in spiritual directions, but also in material and scientific directions. The horizons are much more advanced and much vaster in scope than the horizons of the diligent individuals in the world who work on scientific issues. In the Islamic government, the horizons are much vaster in scope.

Throughout these 12 years [that students spend in school], students should find their position in the great caravan which is moving towards progress in the Islamic society. They should know what role they have in this great system and in this great movement. They should know what their position and status is. They should define roles for themselves. We should educate our children like this. Students are educated in schools by you. They should be taught to have a sense of responsibility, to enjoy a spirit of free thinking, to be sincere, to be diligent and to be courageous, self-sacrificing, moral and pious. The generation which is educated by you should have these characteristics. The horizons are these.

Well, there is a great war in this arena. My dear ones, you intelligent, motivated and pious youth who have gathered in this organization and all you who want to play their part in the education of the country, you should take this war seriously. There is a war in the present time. Some people wish to sing a lullaby to us so that we go to sleep and ignore the enemy's doings. In the arena of cultivating lofty, determined, courageous and purposeful individuals – in the arena of this great education and this great task – there is an ongoing war. Some people want the opposite to happen. They do not like pious, Muslim and Iranian youth to develop these qualities. They are working in different ways.

The issue of identity that I have always stressed is related to this issue. Our students should grow and move forward with a sense of national identity. When a youth has a sense of identity, he will avoid deviation, treachery, weakness and laziness. The main problems that sometimes arise are because that sense of true national identity does not exist in individuals. When a sense of identity does not exist, others can pull them this and that way: "The temptations of this and that and my own whims drag me this and that way like a blade of straw."

We are faced with our feelings, our emotions, inner motives and inner devils. From the outside too, there are tens of hands pulling us this and that way. The thing which prevents us from deviation is our commitment and our sense of identity. You should educate youth like this. And it is you who should educate them.

Fortunately, we have role models in our living environments today. We have outstanding role models. Today, we no more suffer from a lack of role models so much so that we will be forced to refer to some historical personalities who are strangers to us. Today, we have role models in our own lives and in front of our own eyes. Our nuclear martyrs are among the role models. Shahid Chamran is a role model. Shahid Chamran was a scientist in the true sense of the word. He was a learned scientist, but he was also a fighter in the true sense of the word. Shahid Avini is a role model as well. Shahid Hojjaji is a role model too. Notice that all kinds of role models are available to us.

One of our dear brothers in the meeting mentioned this very well. He said that his role model was his first-grade teacher, but that now, his role model is Hojjaji. We have such role models. They stand up against the enemy with courage, boldness, sense of responsibility, power and dignity in order to further the lofty goals of their society and their government, not to further their own personal goals. They were not martyred over a personal fight. Shahid Shahriari, Shahid Ali Muhammadi, Ahmadi Roshan and others moved forward for the sake of their nation's honor and dignity. They are role models. We have these dear role models in our own society, in front of our own eyes and in our own era. 

Another point is the issue of beneficial science. In the education of the country, beneficial science should be pursued. When you say that the educational system should be reformed, one important aspect of reform is teaching beneficial science in schools. Youth should be able to benefit from this science to improve their own lives, their society and their environment. Beneficial science is this. Beneficial science is the science which helps us get close to our goals, which facilitates our movement and which helps us move forward. Beneficial science is this. The things which give us a spirit of movement, which blossom us and which activate our capacities are parts of beneficial science. Of course, one of the beneficial sciences is awareness about national experiences, national achievements and historical lessons. This is part of beneficial science as well. Beneficial science is a science which nurtures our capacities. This is another point.

As for the educational system, some friends said that the educational system is one of the few first-rate organizations in helping the country make progress and meet its needs. This was also mentioned by some friends in another meeting [Supreme Leader's speech delivered on May 9, 2018 in meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education and Farhangian University]. The educational system is very important. Education is the responsibility of the educational system. We cannot look at the educational system like an ordinary office. The issue of the educational system is a special issue.

Well, the educational system has an opportunity which is not available to any other organization. This opportunity is the 12 years that students spend in school. The 12 years that our children and teenagers spend in primary school and high school is available to the educational system. No other organization has such a precious opportunity. This is the best opportunity to transfer our values and our revolutionary and national ideals in a correct and comprehensive manner. The opportunity to institutionalize national identity in our children and in our future men and women is a unique opportunity which is available to the educational system.

During these 12 years, thinking, motivation and the direction of one's life – different motives, ideals and orientations – are shaped in our youth and teenagers thanks to their presence in classrooms and their listening to teachers in the school environment. Notice how significant this is. The future of the country depends on the 12 years that our youth spend in school.

Well, the educational system needs to be renovated. You too chanted the slogan of reform. Surely, the educational system needs renovation because it is worn-out and it had certain shortcomings even the day when it was established. Even the day when it had just been established and when it was not so decrepit, old, outdated and damaged, our educational system had fundamental shortcomings which have prevailed until today.

The main tool for this reform is the "transformation plan". This plan is ready. The honorable Minister pointed to the efforts that are being made to that end. In my opinion, these efforts are among the most necessary tasks. According to the report that I have received, only less than 10 percent of this plan's contents has been implemented while several years have passed from its preparation. Very little work has been done in this regard. Therefore, more work should be done. This plan is a writing on paper. It should be implemented. Of course, preparing this plan was a necessity which was fulfilled.

According to the verdict and opinion of educational experts – many of whom were involved in preparing the plan – the content of the plan is at a very high level in terms of expertise and professionalism. It is a very solid, well-organized and satisfactory plan. Therefore, it should be implemented. What I demand and expect of the educational system is that it should set out a schedule. You should set a date for the complete implementation of the plan. Of course, this is a difficult task, but this difficult task should be carried out.

All different organizations should help the educational system. Everyone should help. One area is related to the Farhangian University and various organizations in charge of teacher education – I will expand on this matter later on – and another area is related to the educational system itself. They should prepare the software and hardware requirements for this task. They should set out a timetable for this as well so that by Allah's favor, this task will be really accomplished. This is the most important course of action in the public education of the country.

One of the tasks that should be carried out is familiarizing the body of the educational system with the transformation plan. According to the report that I have received, the main body of the educational system has only heard something about this plan and they do not know what it really is. You should introduce this plan properly. They should become familiar with it and they should see, read and know about it. This will help the implementation of the plan. This is because implementing the plan is not possible without the help of the body of the educational system. Those people who should implement the plan in practice are in the body of the educational system. You should familiarize them with the plan.

Another point about the educational system is the deputy of moral education. I have stressed and highlighted this issue in previous terms and in the current term as well. You should take this issue seriously. Well, the honorable Minister is motivated, enthusiastic and ready to work. He should take this task seriously. The issue of the deputy of moral education in the educational system is a very important matter. Moral education is very important and the methods for that are based on important scientific methods.

The next issue about education is attention to exceptional talents and outstanding students. Well, there are some discussions in this regard. The officials in charge should look at the entirety of this issue. They should examine the issue of the SAMPAD [the national organization for development of exceptional talents] in a completely professional manner and by considering all aspects of the issue so that there will not be any discrimination, problem and swindle and so that the issue of exceptional talents will be pursued in the real sense of the word.

And the last issue in this part of my statements is about the deviant 2030 Education Agenda. Last year, I publicly, officially and decisively prevented this from happening. The officials of the educational system welcomed this and they pursued it. However, I heard that some parts of the 2030 Education Agenda are being implemented in different areas. This means letting others be in control of the most important issue of the country. Apart from these parts of the 2030 which undoubtedly contain deviant materials, even if all of it were correct it would be meaningless for a country like Iran – with this culture, with this history, with this power and with this dear Islamic government – to borrow its educational and moral plans and projects from the others who have prepared something with different motives – be that political motives or various other corrupt motives. Such a thing is meaningless [Audience chants, "Teachers will die but they will not comply with the 2030]. Of course, the way to do so is not to die and then not to accept the 2030. This is the better way [Supreme Leader and audience laugh].

As for the issue of the Farhangian University and the issue of teacher education, today the most important need of the educational system of the country is teachers. The most important need is teachers. This university, the Shahid Rajai University and every other place which embarks on educating teachers should develop both quantitatively and qualitatively. The gentlemen in the meeting mentioned – and I myself know – that in four years, a large of number, a very large number, of teachers will retire. The individuals from this university – the Farhangian University – and from Shahid Rajai University who will be given to the educational system will be much smaller in number than the people who get out of the educational system. This is a crisis for the educational system. Such a thing should not happen.

Of course, it is mentioned that they are employing some individuals from the outside, but this is an emergency measure which is alright if necessity dictates it. However, this is not a correct task according to principles. Teaching is a professional career and an artistic job which requires learning. You learn how to teach here. He who has studied in such and such a university does not have your expertise. So, how is he going to teach? Teacher education centers – the most important of which is the Farhangian University at the moment – are the main centers of the educational system of the country. So, negligence has been shown in the case of this university.

According to my information and the reports that I have received, this university has certain shortcomings in terms of manpower, budget and educational environments. The Ministry of Science, the Management Organization and the Recruitment Affairs Organization should cooperate and help each so that these problems will be eliminated. Of course, the friends in this meeting and in the previous meeting mentioned that they have some expectations of me. I am ready and I will definitely do whatever I can which is within the remit of my power. This is because I consider this issue as one of the most important issues of the country.

The quotas for employing professors and teachers should increase. This is the responsibility of the Recruitment Affairs Organization. The professors in this university should be outstanding in terms of intellectual and scientific qualities. They should be pious, they should enjoy a high level of expertise, they should have revolutionary spirit and they should comply with the standards of the transformation plan. It is not possible to prepare a transformation plan and to seek its implementation by making the most important and fundamental center of the educational system drift away from the standards and criteria of the educational system. This is not possible. The selection nuclei should not show any negligence in this regard. They should select outstanding, good and of course, full-time professors.

I advise all professors and students at this university to become familiar with the works of our dear martyr, Shahid Motahhari – Teachers' Day is closely linked with his name as well. You should familiarize yourselves with his works as much as you can. Many years have passed from the blessed life of Shahid Motahhari, but his pure blood and his martyrdom are the signature to his statements. He was sincere and truthful. He was intelligent, talented and strong in terms of intellectual capability and he thankfully left a good legacy which is still being used today. Well, these were some statements about education and the Farhangian University. So, this part is over.

I should discuss two other issues briefly: one is the issue of the US and another is the issue of the Bar-Jaam [the JCPOA]. Well, you heard that last night the American president made some statements. He made ridiculous and silly statements. Perhaps, he told more than ten lies during his speech. He spoke about their withdrawal from the Bar-Jaam and he threatened the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic to do such and such things. I would like to say on behalf of the Iranian nation: Mr. Trump, the hell you will do such things!

You should pay careful attention. You should listen carefully. I like you youth and all those who will hear these statements later on to pay careful attention because this is one of our most important issues in the present time. The issue of the US is a serious issue. The US is our enemy and this enmity is not directed at this humble person or the leaders of the system, rather it is directed at the Islamic Republic which the Iranian nation has accepted today and on whose path it is moving. This enmity is such enmity. And it is not particular to this person. The American government and the American system were the enemy of the Islamic Republic and they were on bad terms with it since its emergence and as a result, they were trying to overthrow it. Even the previous administration – the Obama administration – was lying when it claimed through letters to me that it was not trying to overthrow the Islamic Republic. That administration too was trying to overthrow – overthrow the Islamic Republic.

The issue of the Bar-Jaam and other such issues are merely excuses. When the nuclear issue and sanctions had just begun, there were some outstanding personalities and high-ranking officials who came to me and said, "Why do you insist on the nuclear matter? What is the reason for this insistence? Well, the Americans are making excuses and showing malice. Therefore, let us put this aside so that we will not have any worries." They were saying this to me. Of course, those statements were wrong because the nuclear issue is something that the country needs. I have said this many times: in a few years, we will need 20,000 megawatts of electricity. This has been calculated by the officials in charge of such matters in the country. We will need this.

Well, how should we get it? They say that you have oil today. Well, oil is not eternal. The day when there will not be any oil available to the country or when we will not have much of it left, should we begin to pursue the nuclear energy and nuclear resources just then? Should we begin on that day? Will future generations not curse us for not beginning to work on it when we should have?

It was wrong to say, "What do we need it for?" This is because we need it. Even if we do not need it, I was saying to those individuals that the excuses of the US, the sanctions that it imposes and its enmity towards us have nothing to do with the nuclear energy. These are excuses. If we put this aside, they will find another excuse to show enmity. They were saying that this was not the case, but now you have witnessed that this is exactly the case.

During the Bar-Jaam, we complied with our opponents over the nuclear issue the way they wanted, but enmities did not come to an end. In the present time, they are bringing up the issue of our presence in the Middle East regions and the issue of missiles. If you announce tomorrow that we will not be building missiles anymore or we will not be building missiles whose range exceeds such and such figures, the issue will come to an end, but another issue will crop up and they will highlight another matter. The fight is a fundamental fight. They are opposed to the Islamic Republic.

Well, why are they opposed to the Islamic Republic? The reason behind their opposition to the Islamic Republic is that the Islamic Republic cut off the hands of American domination over the country. The entire issue is about this. The Americans used to completely dominate a country like Iran with its the wealth and resources and its sensitive and strategic location. However, the Revolution and the Islamic Republic came and cut off their hands. Therefore, they want to destroy the Revolution and the Islamic Revolution for that. They want to be dominant again as they are unfortunately dominant over many countries in the present time. They want to issue orders, saying to us that we should do such and such things and they want the ruler of such and such a country in this sensitive region to comply with such orders immediately.

Notice that this is an important point. The issue is not about feelings and emotions. These issues do not arise because of our position on a single incident. The issue is a fundamental and deep-rooted one. These people need servants. The Islamic Republic has shown its dignity and honor to them and they cannot tolerate it. They want rulers whose money they can take and whose resources they can use. They want rulers who obey their orders and who abandon power whenever they wish so.

For example, one day the English had the same role in the region. One day, they brought Reza Khan and another day, they wished to oust him from power for certain reasons and they did so and after that, they replaced him with his son. They want this. Unfortunately, this state of affairs exists in many Persian Gulf and West Asian countries. Such countries are humble and meek before the US. What can we say about them? They are like acquiescent servants.

Just two, three days ago, Trump wrote a letter to the heads of Persian Gulf countries. We managed to seize the letter and read it. In that letter, he says to them that all of them should get united to do such and such things. He says, "I have spent seven trillion dollars here for you." Little man, did you really spend seven trillion dollars! Well, you spent seven trillion dollars to dominate Iraq and Syria, but you failed to do so, the hell you failed!

He says that they should do this and should do that. There are many "shoulds" in his letter. And he has sent this letter to all the heads of those countries. They want to issue "shoulds" to the Islamic Republic as well. Because they cannot do so, they show enmity and want to overthrow the Islamic Republic. The fight is over this.

The Iranian nation is an independent nation, a dear one. The previous rulers of this nation – Qajar and Pahlavi kings – took away the dignity of this nation. They humiliated it and kept it backward. They made it submit to the imposition of other powers. So, they [the Americans] have gotten used to this and want the same thing to happen again. Now, Islam, the Islamic Republic, the Islamic government and the Islamic Revolution – has come and has given back dignity to the people. The people have stood firm- they cannot tolerate it. The fight is over this. Therefore, some individuals should not say why we insist on such and such matters. Some people used to come and say these things to me. May God forgive them for their mistakes.

Well, this is the issue of the US. Therefore, what has happened – the inappropriate and ridiculous behavior of the current US president – is not contrary our expectations in any way. These are actions that they used to take from the beginning. During the time of the former administration, they were doing these things in one way and now they are doing them in a different way. Before that too – during the time of Bush junior – they used to do these things differently as well. In every administration, they have shown their malice, enmity and viciousness against the Iranian nation one way or another and the people of Iran have stood up against all these administrations with complete power.

The bones of many of them have turned into dust and their bodies have turned into food for worms and snakes, but the Islamic Republic has thankfully stood firm with complete power. The body of this fellow will turn into dust as well and it will be food for worms and snakes, but the Islamic Republic will continue to stand. These statements were about the US.
As for the Bar-Jaam, I said from the first day that the US should not be trusted. I said this both in private and in public meetings to the people. I said this more emphatically in private meetings. I said to government officials that they should not trust them. If you want to sign agreements, you should get the necessary guarantees and then talk and sign agreements. I said that they should not trust their statements. One of the things that I insisted on in particular was the conditions for signing the agreement. I said, "We will accept the agreement with such and such conditions." There were some conditions. One of them was that the US president should sign, in writing, the lifting of sanctions. This was one of our conditions. It was one of my conditions. Well, the honorable officials made serious efforts and they sweated profusely over it, but they failed to do so and it did not happen. And the result is what you are witnessing now: two and a half years have passed, we have fulfilled all our commitments, but this little man comes and says, "I do not accept this agreement. I want to withdraw from it and I will do such and such things."

Now, it was said that we want to continue the Bar-Jaam with these three European countries. I do not trust these three countries either! I say that you should not trust them either. If you want to sign agreements, you should get guarantees in return – real and practical guarantees. Otherwise, tomorrow they will do the same things that the US did, but in different ways. Political and diplomatic methods are particular methods. They sometimes smile, but while smiling they thrust the dagger into your chest up to the handle! Diplomacy is this. They step forward with good manners and by singing your praises, saying to you, "You are very good people. You are gentlemen. We know that you will not violate the agreement" [Audience laughs]. If you get guarantees from them in a way that it can be trusted, then it will be alright. You can continue your moves. However, if you cannot get definite guarantees – and I think it is very unlikely that you can get these guarantees – then it is not possible to move forward and continue like this anymore.

The issue is very sensitive. Today, the officials of the country are faced with a great test. Will they preserve the dignity and power of this dear nation or not? The dignity of this nation should be achieved. The interests of this nation should be safeguarded in the real sense of the word. Well, officials have thankfully stressed the importance of preserving national interests. They have announced that the people's interests should be preserved. Yes, they should be preserved, but in order to do so, you should not trust the statements of such and such a prime minister, president or chancellor because their statements are not trustworthy.

They say something today, but they will act in a different way tomorrow. And they have no considerations and do not feel ashamed in any way. Unfortunately, the thing that does not exist in the world of diplomacy is morality. In particular, westerners and Europeans know nothing about morality in various diplomatic and other such relations. They merely think, move and plan on the basis of their own interests. Such people should be dealt with carefully and intelligently. So, the dignity of the people should be preserved. Their interests should be preserved – in the real sense of the word – as well and the others should not be trusted.

And I will tell you my dear ones, youth, my children: the future belongs to you! I have no doubt that the future of this country will be much better than its present-day conditions and that it will move in the direction of Islamic government, Islam and Islamic values [Audience chants, "Oh liberated Leader, we are prepared"]. I hope that God will preserve this preparedness in you, that He will make your and our steps firm, that He will destine a good end for all of us, that He will associate us with the people whom we love – our dear martyrs and our magnanimous Imam – in this world and in the hereafter and that He will make the holy heart of the Imam of the Age satisfied with us.

Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings