Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the Iranian nation should look to countries in the East on its path of scientific progress, because relying on Western states will not contribute to the country's growth.

“Those countries are mostly in Asia. Therefore, we should look to the East, rather than the West,” the Leader said in a meeting with scientific elites in Tehran on Wednesday.

“Looking to the West and Europe has no benefit other than having to stand idle, begging favors and undergoing humiliation,” he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to enemy attempts to portray a false image of Iran, saying that despite the economic problems in the country, including currency fluctuations and livelihood concerns, the country’s image is quite the opposite of what “domineering foreigners” are trying to show.

“Portraying a false, negative and disappointing image of the situation in Iran is the most important agenda of the enemy today,” said the Leader. “But…the real image of the country is in general the opposite of the one that the hegemonic system” is attempting to portray.

The Leader compared the ongoing media war against Iran to the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, saying, "While Iran’s counter-propaganda prowess is lacking just as it did during the war, we will undoubtedly triumph in this fight with God's help, just as we did” back then.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei meets with scientific elites in Tehran on October 17, 2018. (Photo by khamenei.ir)

Ayatollah Khamenei named "misrepresentation" of the facts as the enemy's main mind manipulation tactic both inside and outside of Iran, and said the country's young elites needed to do their utmost to win the "heavy battle."

Ayatollah Khamenei further warned against enemy plots to plunder national wealth, including the assassination of scientific elites, and urged vigilance in the face of such attempts.

The Leader further reminded the scientific elites of wars being imposed against Iran on “economic, political and security” fronts, and called on them not to remain indifferent to such campaigns.

“If we make progress on the scientific path, the threats posed by the enemies of our civilization, politics and economy will not last,” the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also advised that the viewpoints of young elites be incorporated into different sectors, and called for diversification of the economy and changing it from a system that is entirely dependent on oil, to one that is independent, knowledge-based and resistant.