"Looking at the realities should guide the young student's mind towards a direction that is closer to solving the problems," Ayatollah Khamenei told the students on Sunday.

Before the Islamic Revolution, the Supreme Leader said, Iran was not an advanced country from a scientific and technological standpoint despite having excellent university professors in various fields.

"It was a given that Iranians cannot access high and precise technologies, it was a fact that Iranians cannot reach high scientific positions, cannot access the forefront of science," he added.

The Supreme Leader said students must be a powerful and inspiring part of society, fond of "knowledge, thought, and contemplation."

"Given these characteristics, it is expected that students be active and sensitive about the future," he noted.

A number of students also shared their viewpoints on the country's current affairs with the Supreme Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the existing shortcomings in the country are far greater than the issues raised by the students in the gathering.

He further called upon the student community to organize a "work and value system", through thinking and planning, for the future of the country and draw a roadmap to achieve the objectives.

Ayatollah Khamenei regarded "a better tomorrow than today" as the fundamental goal of the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that "specific ideals must be defined" to that end.