TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei cautioned against hostile schemes to hinder Iran�s scientific progress, and urged efforts to raise the country�s scientific rating instead of only attempting to prevent it from falling.

In an address to a gathering of Iranian elites and scientific talents in Tehran on Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei described hampering Iran�s scientific progress as a main objective of the enemies.

Pointing to reports that Iran�s scientific growth was 13 times greater than the world�s average rate in a certain juncture, the Leader underscored that the growth rate should not fall, but should increase instead.

�On the reduction in the speed of the country�s scientific progress, some officials argue that Iran�s scientific rating has not fallen, but we should be mindful that Iran�s scientific rating was supposed to rise, not merely be prevented from falling,� Ayatollah Khamenei added.

Any damage to Iran�s scientific headway will frustrate the elites and the young generation, cause severe damages and make young gifted Iranians consider emigrating to other countries, the Leader warned.

Ayatollah Khamenei also voiced concern about reports of slowdown in the country�s research projects in the aerospace field, satellite industry, nuclear sciences or other major fields, making it clear that such significant programs should by no means be slowed, suspended or stopped because that would �cause scientific damage and dishearten young scientists.�

The Leader has on various occasion highlighted the role of science as a means of power and development, calling for efforts to maintain the pace of scientific growth in Iran despite enemy efforts to undermine it.

By Tasnim News Agency