Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei paid a visit to Farhangian University on the occasion of Teachers’ Week and, in a meeting with thousands of university students and teachers, described the lofty status of teachers, just like their livelihood, as very important and requiring full attention. He said the scheduled implementation of a comprehensive and concrete document on the overhaul of the Ministry of Education is very important and facilitates the modernization of this huge and decisive apparatus. Also, in important remarks about “the United States” and “the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” he pointed to the sustenance of the dignity and grandeur of the Iranian nation and futility of enemy plots, reiterating, “We said over and over again, ‘Do not trust the US’ and here is the outcome. On negotiations with the three European countries, we are also telling you not to trust them, either, and for every contract you must obtain genuine and practical guarantees; otherwise, we cannot continue like this.” 
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to US President Donald Trump’s cheap and base remarks last night, saying, “As well as [telling] over ten blatant lies, this person threatened the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic [of Iran], and I, on behalf of the Iranian nation, tell him, ‘the hell you will.’” 
He described the issue of the US as important, serious and unsentimental, reiterating, “The ceaseless, deep and subversive US hostility is not enmity toward me or other officials of the country, but is antagonism toward the entire Islamic Establishment and the nation that has chosen this Establishment and is moving along its course.”  
In this same regard, Ayatollah Khamenei added, “Even when they wrote letters or made statements in the administration of [former US President Barack] Obama, they were seeking to overthrow [the Iranian government], but they would mendaciously say that our objective is not to topple the Islamic Establishment.” 
The Leader of the Revolution briefly recapped the process culminating in the JCPOA, adding, “When the nuclear issue and sanctions started, some well-known figures told me, ‘Why are you insisting on the nuclear issue? Drop this issue, so that the Americans would cease their hostility and maliciousness.’”  
He added, “This statement was wrong from different perspectives. One was that nuclear energy is a real need of the country and in a few years, Iran will require 20,000 MW of electricity.” 
On the same issue, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, “You say that you have ‘oil’ to meet your energy demands, but is ‘oil’ everlasting? Should we seek nuclear facilities only after the oil runs out? Wouldn’t that day’s generation curse us for not going after nuclear energy in time?”
Ayatollah Khamenei added, “At that time, I told the officials, ‘Nuclear energy is an excuse and if you back down the Americans will find another excuse.’ They said, ‘It is not like this.’ But as you saw it is and what we said took place.” 
He added, “We agreed to the nuclear issue the way the opponents of Iran wanted it and we gave in, but the US enmity and their excuses did not end.”
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the US excuses on the Iran’s defensive prowess and regional presence, stressing, “If tomorrow you declare that we would not build missiles again or that we will limit their range, this issue will stop, but they will certainly raise another excuse and case, because their dispute with us is fundamental and the US is opposed to the very principle of the Islamic Republic.”    
He said the main reason for this bitter animosity is the success of the Islamic Revolution and the founding of the Islamic Republic and the Americans losing their grip on Iran, adding, “They want to destroy the establishment and once more rule over Iran, which enjoys important resources and a strategic position.”  
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, “The Americans want servants that, like some rulers of regional countries, only obey; but the Islamic Republic shows off the dignity of itself and the Iranian nation and this pride and greatness is not tolerable for them.”   
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to Trump’s letter sent to the rulers of the Arab littoral states of the Persian Gulf a few days ago, adding, “In the letter to these countries, the US president orders that they do these things and not do other things; they want to treat the Islamic Establishment in the same way, but they cannot, because the Islamic Republic has turned the indignity of the nation and country during the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties to honor, independence and steadfastness and will not back down on its national interests.” 
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said Trump’s cheap and base behavior was foreseeable and touched upon to the continuation of the malevolence of all and various US officials in the years after the Revolution.   He added, “The bones of those who committed such animosities against the Iranian nation are now underground, but the Islamic Republic is standing; this guy’s body will also go underground one day, but the Islamic Republic will continue to be standing and proud.”
Another important part of the remarks of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution was dedicated to JCPOA.
He pointed to the cautions he issued to officials over and over in public and private meetings about refraining from trusting the US, adding, “We told the officials to obtain genuine guarantees from the opposite side before any agreement and not trust their word.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei recalled his conditions for agreeing to the JCPOA on behalf of Iran, saying, “One of these conditions was a written guarantee by and signature of the US president at the time concerning the removal of sanctions; of course, officials did try but did not succeed and the result is that after two and a half years of Iran fulfilling its obligations, while withdrawing from the JCPOA, the US president also threatens the Iranian nation.”  
In another very important segment of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to some statements about carrying on with the JCPOA with three European countries, adding, “I do not trust these three countries either and say not to trust them either. If you want to make a contract, receive genuine and practical guarantees; otherwise, tomorrow, they will do what the US did today in another form.”  
He reiterated, “Sometimes they thrust the dagger into the chest of the other side while smiling and pursue their objectives through superficial compliments and praise and that we know that you will not torpedo the deal.” 
On working with the Europeans, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, “This issue is very sensitive; if you succeeded to receive a definitive and reliable guarantee, which is indeed very unlikely, there is no problem and press ahead; otherwise, things cannot continue like this.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei said the country’s officials face a major test and stressed, “The officials are subject to a ‘major test’ on whether or not they will safeguard the honor and might of this nation. The dignity and interests of the nation must be ensured in the true sense of the word.” 
He added, “Of course and fortunately, the officials have also touched upon this issue of the fulfillment of interests; however, for the realization of this objective the Europeans must be approached carefully, vigilantly and widely and the words of the European officials must not be trusted, because mere talking has no credibility and they are utterly immoral in the world of diplomacy.”
In another part of his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the meeting as one of the sweetest of gatherings due to presence among the illustrious community of teachers. He pointed to the famous quotation by the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini that teaching is the “profession of prophets.” He reiterated, “Unfortunately, the position and status of teachers still have not been truly spelled out in society and not taken shape in public opinion and this is not possible just with talking, but require planning and artistic work in various aspects.”    
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that public education must be in line with the availability of justice and the raising of justice-cultivating, justice-making and justice-seeking humans, adding, “The alignment and objectives of the Education [Ministry] in the 12-year academic duration must be such that students find their place in the convoy moving toward progress and be raised and delivered to the society with a sense of responsibility and with free-thinking spirit as truthful, ambitious, brave, sacrificial, virtuous and chaste.”    
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the realm of raising prominent, motivated and diligent youths as the field of a great and real battle, saying, “Some want to sing a lullaby so that we fall asleep; whereas the current opposing the Islamic Establishment is vigorously trying though various ways to prevent the raising of a young generation with such characteristics.”   
He pointed to the presence of prominent and plentiful role models in society, reiterating, “In order to raise a young generation conforming to the objectives, ideals and alignments of the Islamic Establishment, we have no shortage of role models to have to turn to such and such foreign historical personality but have great role models such as nuclear martyrs, martyr Chamran, martyr Avini and martyr Hojaji, who stood up against the enemy with a sense of responsibility and with might, dignity and for the pride and glory of the nation.”   
Continuing, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution underscored the need to teach “Good Science” in education, saying, “The outlook toward education must not be like the outlook toward other apparatuses and offices, because this entity has at its disposal the rare and 12-year opportunity to correctly and comprehensively convey the Revolutionary and national ideals and institutionalization of national identity in children and teenagers.”   
He added, “To achieve its lofty objectives, [the Ministry] of Education requires modernization and this modernization is possible with the realization of the document for the transformation of [the Ministry] of Education.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the realization of the transformation document as the most vital endeavors, saying, “Despite the measures taken, reports show that so far, less than 10 percent of the document for the transformation of the [Ministry] of Education has been realized.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, “My main demand of the [Ministry] of Education is to set a precise timetable for the realization of the transformation document and this document be implemented.”
He said one of the other imperative measures for the realization of the document for the transformation of the Ministry of Education is the acquaintance of the body of the Education Ministry with this document. Regarding the Cultivation Department, he said, “I have repeatedly insisted on the issue of Cultivation Department and it is expected that the respected minister, who is a motivated and vivacious individual, seriously follow this issue.”
One of the other issues that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed was all-out, fully professional and indiscriminate focus on the issue of gifted and talented children and the National Organization for the Development of Exceptional Talents schools.       
Regarding UNESCO’s Education 2030 Agenda, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Last year, I officially, openly and resolutely forbade the implementation of this deviant document, which was welcomed by the officials; however, I have heard that in various sectors some of the contents of the 2030 document is being implemented and this is tantamount to handing over the most important issue of the country to foreigners.”   
He added, “There is no sense in a country like Iran, with such history, culture and with this powerful establishment, taking its educational and training agendas from others.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also pointed to the issue of Farhangian University and Teacher Training universities, saying, “Teacher Training universities must expand qualitatively and quantitatively, because in a few years, a large number of teachers will retire and the country will face a teacher shortage crisis.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that “teaching” is an artistic and professional occupation and requires training. He reiterated, “Unfortunately, there have been lapses concerning Farhangian University and Teacher Training universities and these universities face serious shortages in terms of professors, budget and academic premises.”
He urged the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, the Management and Planning Organization and the State Administrative and Recruitment Organization to resolve these issues with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education and increase these universities’ quota for faculty member recruitment.     
On the recruitment of professors for Farhangian universities, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, “In terms of ideological characteristics and from scientific, religious and Revolutionary spirits standpoint, the professors of these universities must be among the most outstanding and conforming to the criteria of the transformation document.”  
He stressed that selection committees must not commit any negligence in observing these standards and urged the professors and students of Teacher Training universities to develop an affinity with the works of Martyr Motahhari. 
At the end of his speech, the Leader of the Revolution said the future of the country is bright and belongs to the nation, particularly the beloved youth of this land, stressing, “The future of our Iran will doubtlessly be much better than today.”
Prior to the remarks of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Hossein Khanifar, the president of Farhangian University; Ms. Adeli, the head of Nasibeh Campus; Ms. Zohreh Eslami-Nia, Farhangian University student-teacher; Dr. Sohrab Morovvati, professor-teacher at Farhangian University and Mr. Ramin Nasiri, nationwide outstanding teacher, raised their concerns and viewpoints as representatives of the students and professors of Farhangian University and teachers across the country.   
The main points disussed are as follows:
The need for an all-out support for Farhangian University and its qualitative and quantitative promotion
The need to institutionalize science, faith, skill and entrepreneurship in students
Criticism of the lack of implementation of the document for the fundamental transformation of the Ministry of Education
The need for serious attention to the livelihood and social standing of the teachers’ community
The need to reform the structure of the recruitment of faculty members and human resources in Farhangian University
The need to recruit and increase the number of teachers given the rise in the number of students and the retirement of a large number of teachers in coming years   
The need for the realization of educational justice and attention to the students in deprived and nomadic regions
Also, in a report, Education Minister Mohammad Bat’haei described teachers as the basic pivot and most effective element in the teaching and training system, saying, “Planning and transformation in the Education Ministry by reliance on the fundamental transformation document, prevention of social maladies, promotion of quality of state schools and increasing their authorities, the application of the education and the expansion of skills and the expansion of skills are among the most important approaches and measures taken in the Ministry of Education.”  
Upon arrival at Farhangian University, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution attended a gathering of the officials of the Education Ministry, a group of the professors of Farhangian and Shahid Rajaee universities and the representatives of teachers from provinces.   
In brief remarks Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that investment of resources in the Education sector is in fact investment for the future, adding, “If this investment is not made today, everyone will suffer the damage tomorrow.”
He also criticized some wrong expressions about apparatuses like the Ministry of Education devouring the country’s budget, saying, “These deviant ideologies must not become the basis of providing the budget of the Ministry of Education with suspicious and problematic approaches, but the Ministry of Education must be state-run like the past.”