Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met this morning with hundreds of champions from various athletic disciplines and medallists from international scientific Olympiads. He described these achievers as the manifestation of national growth and a reflection of national power. He said, "You have proven that the inspirational youth of beloved Iran are symbols of the nation, who possess the ability to stand upon the summit and draw the attention and eyes of the world toward the radiant horizons of Iran."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to the recent bullying and absurd remarks of the U.S. President. He said, "This individual tried, through his vulgar conduct and numerous lies about the region, Iran, and the Iranian people, to boost the morale of the Zionists and portray himself as being powerful. But if he truly is powerful, let him go and calm the millions across the United States who are chanting slogans against him in every state."

He expressed his pleasure at being in the presence of strong young people who have brought joy to the nation and inspired the youth by winning medals in athletic and scientific arenas through their determination and effort. He said, "Your medals carry an added distinction compared with those of previous times, for you have attained them in a situation when the enemy, through its soft war, seeks to cast the nation into despair and make it oblivious or hopeless about its own capabilities. Yet by displaying the nation's strength and potential in action, you have given the enemy the firmest and most decisive response."

The Leader of the Revolution described as ill-considered and unfounded, certain claims that the nation's youth is in a state of despair, saying, "Our beloved Iran and its youth are the embodiment of hope, and it must be understood that the Iranian youth, through determination and effort, possesses the ability and skill to reach the highest summits just as you have ascended the global summits in sports and science."

Pointing to the country's remarkable progress in various fields after the Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei added, "One example is this very accumulation of achievements this year, which may well be unprecedented in the history of sports in our nation."

Praising the rise of the nation's talented teenagers to the summits of global scientific achievement, he said, "Your accomplishments are credited to the Iranian nation and draw the eyes of the world toward Iran."

The Leader of the Revolution described the athletes' respect for the flag, and their prostration and prayers after victory as actions that embody the Iranian nation. He added, "Our cherished Olympiad students are now bright stars, but ten years from now, provided they persevere in their efforts, they will become radiant suns; and in this matter, the responsibility of officials is of great importance."

Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned that the active role of youth since the victory of the Islamic Revolution was a continuous and enduring trend. He said, "During the Imposed Eight-Year War, it was the young generation who, despite great shortages and empty handedness, displayed such military ingenuity that Iran achieved victory against a heavily equipped enemy that was being endorsed and supported from all sides."

He identified the battlefield of knowledge and science as another arena to which the achievements of the nation's youth have brought honour. In this regard he noted Iran's presence among the world's top ten nations in various fields of research and science that includes nanotechnology, laser science, nuclear energy, diverse military industries, and medical advancements. He said, "Just a few days ago, I heard very important news that one of the country's research centres has succeeded in finding a cure for an incurable disease."

Ayatollah Khamenei recalled the enemy's ongoing efforts to impede Iran's diverse scientific advancements. He said, "Those who wish the Iranian nation ill also try to portray Iran's atmosphere as dark and gloomy through denying or ignoring certain achievements, mixing truth and falsehood, by magnifying particular flaws, and through biased propaganda. But you, by standing on the summits of sports and science, have shown everyone the bright atmosphere of the country."

He pointed out that the loss of confidence in one's own abilities as another tactic used by the enemy to sow despair among the nation and its youth, and stressed, "In opposition to these activities, young people, by relying on the inexhaustible power of youth, must redouble their diligence and perseverance for success, for creating hope, and for manifesting the strength and dignity of the nation."

The Leader of the Revolution regarded it as important that the nation's youth devote their talents to serving the Iranian people. He said, "Some may wish to live in another country, but such individuals should realise that no matter how much they advance elsewhere, they will always remain strangers; whereas Iran belongs to you and to your generation. It is your own soil and your own home."

In another part of his address, the Leader of the Revolution commented on the recent absurd remarks made by the U.S. President regarding the region and the beloved Islamic Republic of Iran. He said, " By travelling to occupied Palestine and uttering a handful of empty, clownish statements, the U.S. President sought to give hope and revive the morale of the disheartened Zionists."

He said that the incredible blow the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the Zionist regime in the Twelve-Day War was what caused their despair. He added, "The Zionists did not expect that an Iranian missile, with its flames and fire, could penetrate deep into their sensitive and vital centres, destroying them and reducing those centres to ashes."

Pointing out that Iran did not buy or rent those missiles from elsewhere but that they are home-made and bear the stamp of Iranian youth, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "When the Iranian youth enter the arena and, through effort and striving, provide the scientific infrastructure, they are capable of accomplishing such great deeds."

The Leader of the Revolution warned, "Our armed forces and military industries prepared and deployed these missiles and still possess them, and if necessary, will use them again at another time."

After summarising the reason behind Trump's absurd and frivolous remarks and crude behaviour, namely, his attempt to boost the morale of the Zionists, he addressed several of the U.S. President's claims. He said, "In the Gaza war, the United States is without doubt the main accomplice in the crimes of the Zionist regime, just as the U.S. President himself admitted when he said, 'We were working with this regime in Gaza." Even if he did not say that, it would have been obvious, for all the weapons and munitions that rained down upon the defenceless people of Gaza throughout that war belonged to the United States."

Ayatollah Khamenei described Trump's other claim, that America is fighting terrorism, as another example of his lies. He said, "More than twenty thousand children and infants were martyred in the Gaza war. Were they terrorists? The terrorist is America itself, which created ISIS, unleashed it upon the region, and even now controls and preserves some number of its members for its own purposes."

He said that the massacre of some seventy thousand people in the Gaza war, as well as the martyrdom of more than one thousand Iranians during the twelve-day conflict, was clear evidence of the terrorist nature of America and the Zionist regime. He added, "In addition to their blind slaughter of civilians, they assassinated our scientists such as Ṭahrānchī and ʿAbbāsī and even took pride in this crime, but they should know that they can never assassinate science itself."

Referring to the U.S. President's boastful claim of having bombed and destroyed Iran's nuclear industry, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution retorted, "No problem! Keep dreaming! But just who do you think you are that you should presume to dictate what another country may or may not possess in terms of nuclear technology?  What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear capabilities and industry or not? Such interference is improper, false, and nothing but arrogance and coercion."

The Ayatollah spoke about the nationwide demonstrations of some seven million people across various states and cities in the United States against Trump. He said, "If you are so capable, then instead of spreading lies, meddling in other countries' affairs, and building military bases within them, go and calm these millions of your own citizens and send them back to their homes"

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the actual terrorist and the very embodiment of terrorism is America itself. He denounced Trump's claim of supporting the Iranian people as a lie, and added, "America's secondary sanctions, which many countries are cooperating with out of fear, are directed against the Iranian nation; therefore, you are the enemy of the Iranian people, not their friend."

He referred to Trump's professed readiness for a deal, saying, "I am a deal-maker." Still, when a "deal" is accompanied by bullying and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and coercion. The Iranian nation will not submit to such imposition."

The Leader alluded to another of Trump's remarks about death and war in West Asia (or, as they call it, 'the Middle East'). He noted, "You are the ones who start wars. America is a warmonger, and along with assassination, it instigates wars. Otherwise, what are all those American military bases in the region for? What business do you have here? What does this region have to do with you? The region belongs to its own peoples, and the wars and deaths here arise from the presence of America."

At the conclusion of his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei described the positions of the U.S. President as wrong and, in many instances, deceitful, and reflective of arrogance and bullying. He followed this up by saying, "Although bullying may influence some countries, by the grace of God, it will never have an effect on the Iranian nation."

During the ceremony, the national youth team of traditional Iranian wrestling (varzesh-e bāstānī) performed a demonstration of their discipline, which was met with praise and commendation from the Leader of the Revolution.