TEHRAN (IRNA) -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, at a meeting held on Tuesday, cautioned heads of universities to stay out of politics.

Addressing a group of outstanding university students on the occasion of National Youth Day, Ahmadinejad said his government was trying to reduce the tendency to bring politics into the management and affairs of Iranian universities.

"Today, students have the right to strongly criticize their president (Ahmadinejad) for the continued presence of liberal and secular professors in the country's universities," Ahmadinejad added.

He described Iranian youth as "unique" for their spectacular talents and intelligence rarely found in their counterparts in other parts of the world.

"Iranian youth are becoming more progressive with every passing day in the fields of science and technology," Ahmadinejad said, adding that Iran's young generation should naturally play a major role in national development.