Addressing a meeting with a group of top Iranian students in Tehran on Monday, the Leader pointed to increasing violence and deadly shootings in the United States and stated that murder and the spread of arms use have turned into a “serious problem” in the country.
This problem can be solved through the prohibition of the use of firearms by the citizens of the country, the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei added that American officials, however, do not dare outlaw the use of guns due to the high influence of firearms manufacturing companies inside the country.
The Leader further referred to the lack of spirituality and divine values as being behind the rifts, shortcomings and frailties of the Western civilization despite its great materialistic advances.
Ayatollah Khamenei cited moral, intellectual and practical deviations, the collapse of family institution, increasing violence, moral corruption, suicides in Western societies, particularly in the US, as results of the dearth of spirituality and divine values.
The Leader noted that some American scholars and intellectuals explicitly admit that these immoral acts and afflictions are rampant in their country, Press TV reported.
Scientific Progress Should Be Accompanied by Ethics
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the importance of commitment to religious values and the Islamic Revolution’s ideals alongside scientific efforts.
“Scientific progress alone will not bring about happiness for a nation and country, but when the scientific movement is accompanied by sublime spiritual and revolutionary values, it will pave the way for settlement of the country’s problems and make it a role model for the region, the Islamic world and the globe,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, as reported by Tasnim.
Ayatollah Khamenei further underscored that Iran’s scientific progress should not be hampered or stopped, but should be accelerated instead.
Iran’s natural resources and capacities are very extensive, diverse and even unknown, the Leader added, calling on the young generation to tap into such potential and ensure the country’s progress, in both material and spiritual dimensions.
