In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

The 14th of Khordaad (4th of June) has marked the anniversary of the passing of Imam Khomeini, the great founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. This date provided an opportunity to revisit the thoughts, ideals, and the lasting legacy of a figure who, relying on divine faith, firm determination, and trust in the people, charted a path of dignity, independence, and self-belief for the Iranian nation, and created a great transformation in the contemporary history of Iran and the Islamic world.

Imam Khomeini was not only the leader of a revolution, but also the architect of a school of thought that was formed based on human dignity, justice-seeking, resistance against oppression, and the defence of the dignity of nations. These ideals still serve as a beacon for the Iranian nation in navigating through difficulties and major events.

This year, the anniversary of the passing of the late Imam has arrived under circumstances in which the Iranian nation has traversed bitter and fateful days. Events resulting from the war and enemy aggression, the martyrdom of a group of commanders, scientists, defenders of the homeland, and the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, created a great and unforgettable loss for Islamic Iran. However, just as Imam Khomeini established the foundations of this revolution on faith, resistance, and the presence of the people, the Iranian nation once again showed that it will stand against hardships and threats with unity, awareness, and perseverance.

Undoubtedly, continuing the path of the late Imam, honouring the blood of the martyrs, and moving towards the scientific, cultural, and social elevation of the country is an historical responsibility on the shoulders of us all, especially the academic community. As a centre for the production of science and thought, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS) has a duty to play a role in the path of the power and progress of Islamic Iran by training conscious generations, strengthening the spirit of self-belief, and expanding the frontiers of knowledge.

While commemorating the memory of Imam Khomeini, the esteemed martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, the martyrs of the 15th of Khordaad (5th of June) uprising, the martyrs of the recent war, and the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, I offer my condolences on these days to the faculty members, employees, students, and all respected academics, and ask the Almighty God for the dignity, peace, power, and increasing pride of Islamic Iran.

Sadollah Nasiri Gheydari

The IASBS President