TEHRAN -- Substitute Leader of Tehran Friday Prayers and Secretary of the Guardians Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati here on Friday called for Iran's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Turning to NPT additional protocol proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said however that it is up to the Iranian statesmen and mainly the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to make decision on the issue.

"The treaty has been denounced by a number of countries. Although Iran has inked the NPT, it is free to withdraw from it anytime," he added.

Iran's Vice-President and Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh addressing the 47th regular IAEA session had said that Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA within the framework of the comprehensive safeguards will continue as before.

According to Aghazadeh, Iran has been fully committed to its NPT responsibilities, not only due to its contractual obligation, but also because of its religious and ethical considerations.

A resolution passed by the IAEA Board of Governors gives Iran an October 31 deadline to prove it had no secret atomic weapons program.

Following growing US pressure for action against Iran, the 35-nation IAEA board passed a resolution setting the deadline. According to IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming, the resolution was adopted without a vote, a procedure very unusual in the agency.

The resolution, submitted by Australia, Canada and Japan, calls on Iran to 'provide accelerated cooperation' with agency efforts to clear up Tehran's nuclear question marks. It also urges Tehran to suspend all further uranium enrichment-related activities.

Ayatollah Jannati in Friday prayers sermons felicitated the new academic year and, said the initiatives of the respectful and highly esteemed young generation of the country have contributed to the reducing trend of Iran's reliance on foreigners.

"The youth were responsible for the national victory during the sacred defence era and they didn't let the enemy overtake even an inch of their homeland.

"They managed to achieve such an honor through their faith in God Almighty, being inspired by the Supreme Leader, their love for Imam Hussein (AS) and Karbala as well as their firm belief in the Islamic Revolution, the system and the country, which should be lauded" he added.

Referring to the national scientific and cultural developments, he said that despite the existing difficulties, the young generation has made remarkable progress in the scientific and cultural fields.

"The pupils and students should be greatly respected and encouraged to get involved in scientific fields so as to have a chance to display their talents and capabilities," he added.

Ayatollah Jannati noted that universities should not be a hub of political parties and warned against letting students fall prey to politicians as political tools, given that politicians are mainly concerned with their own interests.

"Therefore, they should be allowed to continue their studies. Meanwhile, they should be constantly up-dated on the latest world developments," he said.

Pointing to students as the national assets and builders of the country's future, according to the late Imam Khomeini, the substitute Friday Prayer Leader called on them to make the best use of their intellect towards the national progress.