In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Sixteenth of Azar, University Student Day, marks one of the most illustrious and enduring chapters in the history of our beloved Iran. It is the day when honourable and courageous university students, with faith and awareness, stood against oppression and domination and sacrificed their lives for freedom and justice. This day is not merely an historical event but a symbol of the spirit of liberty, the pursuit of independence and resistance against arrogance shown by generations of young people who have always walked the path of truth and justice and, through their blood and sacrifice, illuminated the way forward.

The university student is a sacred concept, the embodiment of a nation’s strength, vitality and hope, and the intellectual engine driving society. Through an active presence in academic, cultural, social and political arenas, university students pave the way for the advancement and progress of our dear Iran. With their spirit of inquiry, commitment to truth and dedication to learning, they keep alight the lamp of the nation’s future. The pages of history make clear that university communities have played an essential and irreplaceable role in all decisive moments, from the victory of the Revolution to the Sacred Defence, standing as torchbearers of Iran’s dignity and independence. Today, too, despite the threats and unjust sanctions imposed by enemies, university students are taking firm steps in scientific endeavour with trust in God Almighty and with their valuable talents. As the Supreme Leader has stated, “Reaching the summit is the beginning of the journey towards more distant horizons.” This profound statement reminds university students of their heavy responsibility in building a bright future for our beloved Iran.

Iran’s university student movement, with a history stretching back nearly seven decades, has continually embodied resistance against inequality and the pursuit of fundamental rights and social justice. Over the years, university students, driven by curiosity and a spirit of inquiry, have opened new paths towards lofty human ideals, and today, inspired by the dedication and sacrifice of the university student martyrs, they remain steadfast in the pursuit of knowledge and learning. Dear university students must, through effort and perseverance, build the bright future of this land, and the university stands firm and determined in supporting them.

I extend my sincere congratulations on the arrival of University Student Day to the esteemed university community, especially our dear university students. I hope that, with guidance drawn from the insights of the Supreme Leader and through unity, hard work and active presence in academic, research, cultural and social spheres, you will succeed in your efforts towards strengthening and uplifting the Islamic Republic of Iran. Undoubtedly, the great blessings of independence, freedom and lasting security in our country today are owed to the struggles and sacrifices of university students and other young people who watered the sapling of the Islamic Revolution with their blood, a sapling that has now grown into a strong and resilient tree and is entrusted today to your care. I pray that God Almighty grants you increasing success, health and prosperity in all areas of your personal and social lives, and that through your active contribution to science and service to our dear homeland, the universities of our country may flourish ever further.

Sadollah Nasiri Gheydari

President of the University

7 December 2025