TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei met with Iranian sports champions and winners of the International Science Olympiad on the morning of October 20, 2025, at Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah.
Expressing his pleasure to be among the energetic young people who brought joy to the nation and inspired other young people through their determination, hard work and medal-winning in the fields of sports and science, he said: “Your medals have special value compared to medals won at other times, because you won them in a situation where the enemy, through soft war operations, is trying to demoralize the people and make them unaware or hopeless about their own capabilities. By demonstrating in practice the capabilities and strengths of the country. You gave them the most solid answer possible.”
During the meeting, Khamenei referred to the US president’s recent rants about the region and Iran, saying, “The US president tried to give hope and boost morale to the disappointed Zionists in occupied Palestine with his empty words and his buffoonery. This is my analysis of the US president’s visit to occupied Palestine.”
The leader cited the Islamic Republic of Iran’s stunning defeat against the Zionist regime in the 12-day war as a reason for his disappointment, adding: “The Zionists did not expect that a missile built by the hands of Iranian youth could burn the depths of their sensitive research centers to ashes with its flames. But that is what happened.”
He emphasized that Iran did not buy missiles from anywhere, but manufactured them, and that this is a characteristic of Iranian youth, saying, “If Iranian youth enters this field and builds scientific infrastructure with hard work and perseverance, they can achieve such feats.”
Khamenei emphasized that these missiles were prepared and used by our military and military industry, and are still in our possession. It will be used again on another occasion if necessary.
Continuing his remarks, the leader of the Islamic Revolution recalled that “the United States is undoubtedly the main accomplice in the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, and the President of the United States himself admitted that we are collaborating with this regime in Gaza. Of course, if the President had not said this, it would have been obvious that the equipment and weapons unleashed on the defenseless people of Gaza during this war belonged to the Zionist regime.” US. ”
He described another claim by the US president that the US was fighting terrorism as another example of a lie, adding: “More than 20,000 children and infants were martyred in Gaza. Were they terrorists? The real terrorists are the US, which created ISIS, set fire to the region, and still retains some of its elements for its own use.”
Khamenei cited the massacre of some 70,000 people in the Gaza Strip and the martyrdom of more than 1,000 Iranians during the 12-day forced war as clear evidence of the terrorism of the United States and the Zionist regime. “In addition to indiscriminate killings of civilians, they assassinated our scientists, including Tehran and Abbasi, and were proud of this crime. But they should know that knowledge cannot be eliminated.”
The Islamic Revolution leader also referred to the US president’s boast that he had bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Khamenei said: “No problem. Hold on to that illusion. But what gives you the right to decide whether a country should have a nuclear industry or not? What does it mean to the United States whether or not Iran has a nuclear capability? These interventions are misguided, wrong, and tyrannical.”
“If you are so capable, why don’t you calm these millions of people down and bring them home instead of doing things like spreading lies, interfering in other countries’ affairs, and building military bases on your territory?” he said, pointing to the mass demonstrations against the US president in various states and cities across the country that have been attended by more than 7 million people.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the real terrorist and embodiment of terrorism is the United States, rejecting the US president’s claims to support the Iranian people, saying, “The US secondary sanctions, which many countries have cowardly complied with out of fear, are aimed at the Iranian state. You are therefore the enemy of the Iranian people, not their friends.”
Referring to the US president’s statement that he is ready to work on a deal, Khamenei said: “He claims to be a dealmaker, but if a deal involves coercion and its outcome is predetermined, then it is not an agreement, it is an imposition, it is bullying. The Iranian state will not succumb to such imposition.”
The leaders also referred to the US president’s remarks regarding the spread of death and war in West Asia or the Middle East, saying, “You are the ones inciting war. What is the purpose of all these American military bases? What are you doing here? What is your relationship with this region? This region belongs to the people of this region, and it belongs to the American people.” The war and deaths here are a direct result of the US presence. ”
Khamenei concluded by saying that the US president’s positions are wrong, often dishonest and reflect bullying. He stressed that “bullying may affect some countries, but by the grace of God, it will never affect the Iranian people.”
In another part of the speech, the leaders highlighted the great progress made in various fields since the Islamic Revolution, saying, “One example of this is the remarkable achievements of our athletes and Olympians this year, which may be unprecedented in our sports history.”
Khamenei cited “respect for the national flag, prostration, and the prayer of the victorious athletes” as symbols of the Iranian nation, adding: “Our beloved Olympic athletes are shining stars now, but if they keep working hard, in 10 years they will become shining suns. The responsibility of the authorities in this regard is grave.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the active role of the youth after the victory of the Islamic Revolution was an ongoing process, saying: “During the eight years of forced war, despite many shortages and disarmament, it was the young generation who demonstrated military ingenuity, and Iran achieved victory over a highly equipped enemy with support from all sides.”
He reminded the audience of the enemy’s efforts to impede Iran’s scientific progress, saying, “Enemies of the Iranian state also try to darken the image of our country by denying or ignoring some of our achievements, mixing truth with lies, amplifying minor shortcomings, and engaging in biased propaganda. However, by reaching the pinnacle of sports and science, you have shown the world a bright future for our country.”