Tehran: Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref has praised Iran's scientific and technological achievements, saying young scientists and academics played a key role in the country's defense during the two recent imposed wars. Speaking at a meeting of the Science and Technology Promotion Working Group on Thursday, Aref highlighted the country's scientific and technological advances over recent decades, saying that science, technology, and academics had been at the forefront during the two recent imposed wars and that their performance in these conflicts was commendable.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Aref emphasized that young people are among the country's most valuable assets, noting that the enemy's current strategy is to undermine social capital and cause social collapse through economic pressure. He added that the enemy also has plans targeting universities.

The vice president added that scientific and technological advances had enabled Iran to defend itself resolutely and emerge victorious in the two recent imposed wars against an enemy equipped with the most advanced technologies, noting that the enemy had not expected Iran to possess such capabilities.

Aref said the country's young scientists and specialists are the 'officers of the technology war,' stressing that the government, other branches of power, and national institutions must provide them with sufficient support and remove obstacles so that they can confidently and energetically advance the country's scientific and technological development.