Imam Khamenei: Although We Could, We’ve never Approached Nukes for They Are Forbidden by Religion

By Staff, Khamenei.ir

Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei told a group of academic elites and top scientific talents with whom he met at the Hussayniyeh of Imam Khomeini on Wednesday morning that although we could, we have never approached nukes because they are forbidden by religion.

"Nuclear science is beneficial but since it’s not been coupled with love for humanity, it led to nuclear disasters. Despite having the ability to develop nukes, we firmly and bravely avoided it, for building and keeping nukes, like using them, is haram,” His Eminence said.

"Science, if not coupled with the upright intellectual approach, will become dangerous. That’s why we believe academic elites should seriously pursue ‘religion’ and ‘nationality’. We want science but we don’t want our universities to be a reproduction of some US university," he added.

Imam Khamenei said that while Iran sees no shame in learning new sciences from others, it does not want its universities to replicate the American education system and copy the "wrong Western culture."

"Imitating others will kill innovation and the real vigor that comes with science," His Eminence said.

Imam Khamenei advised the Iranian officials to protect the young elite generation from becoming subjected to the phenomenon of brain drain that is being encouraged by certain groups.

He said the Iranian prodigies are the valuable assets of their own country and must be protected against attempts to lure them out of the country using financial incentives and other false promises.

His Eminence also hailed the Iranian scientists' achievements in defense, medical sciences, engineering, nanotechnology and peaceful nuclear energy despite the increasing foreign pressure.

"We live in a different situation than others," Imam Khamenei said. "We need to think Iranian, act Iranian and live Iranian and this trend can be accelerated by adopting the Islamic-Iranian Blueprint for Progress."

He said Iranians need to attain such high scientific standards that "in 50 years' time, all elites wishing to acquire the latest scientific findings should learn the language of Farsi. This is something that can be achieved through reliance on Iranian genius, intellect and persistence."