TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said the presence of U.S. and European countries is a source of conflicts, wars and enmities in West Asia. 
Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks in a meeting with a group of talents and top scorers of university entrance exam came hours after Iran pounded Israeli military bases with a barrage of ballistic missiles. 
“In our region, the root cause of problems, which leads to conflicts, wars, concerns and hostilities and such like, results from the presence of the same people who claim to advocate peace and tranquility in the region; that is America and some European countries,” the Leader said.
“If the villainy of the U.S. and certain European countries is removed from this region, undoubtedly these conflicts and wars will be completely eliminated. Then the countries in the region can live together in peace, health, and prosperity.”
 Ayatollah Khamenei said he will address issues regarding the Gaza Strip and Lebanon in the future. He is about to lead the Tehran Friday prayers this week. 
The Leader touched on the martyrdom of Hezbollah chief Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah in a recent bombing by the occupying regime of Israel, for which he announced five days of national mourning in Iran.
“We are in mourning these days. I, in particular, am deeply grieved. The loss of Mr. Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah is not a small matter,” the Leader said, explaining that he chose not to postpone the planned meeting. 
“The message of this gathering is that even though we are in mourning, this does not mean we should just sit in a corner and wallow in despair. Rather, our mourning is of the same nature as that of Imam Hussain (AS). It is reviving, propelling, and it inspires enthusiasm for work and progress.”
He touched on the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Iran in the 1980s, saying it was an example of the West’s warmongering in West Asia. 
“The existing friendship between the two countries of Iran and Iraq, of which the pinnacle is manifested in the great Arba’een Walk, clearly demonstrates that the primary obstacle to peace in the region stems from those who falsely claim to seek it. 

“We remain hopeful that, with God’s help, the determination of the Iranian people, the inspiration drawn from the Islamic Revolution, and collaboration with other nations, our enemies will leave the region,” he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei also touched on the Pahlavi regime’s neglect of the talented force in Iran, saying while the Islamic Revolution reversed the situation, the capabilities of the talented force has to appreciated even more by involving them actively in various sectors including water, oil, gas, nuclear energy, nanotechnology, and new sciences such as artificial intelligence.
“The responsibilities of the talented elite are more significant than those of the general populace, as they enjoy greater divine blessings and advantages, including knowledge, honor, and wealth,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the swift pace of scientific progress across the world, calling for a scientific jihad in the country. 
Iran, the Leader said, needs a new scientific movement and a leap, a responsibility that rests primarily on the shoulders of the talented elite and intellectuals. 
A new scientific movement and leap, Ayatollah Khamenei said, will lead to superiority over rivals and ill-wishers. 
“Achieving scientific and technological superiority will significantly diminish the enemy’s capacity to harm the people of Gaza and Beirut’s Dahiyah district. This will help avert provocations that would break the hearts of the people and the youth.”