New academic year opens in Iran: The new academic year for universities and research centers has kicked off during a ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "As we have repeatedly announced, Iran faces no limitations in scientific exchanges with other countries except the Zionist regime," Ahmadinejad said Monday while addressing the ceremony held at Tehran University. "Today, university students and academics should develop a high sense of responsibility on the international scene, in full awareness of the fact that for all the efforts countries have made, they stand in need of them," he added. The president urged Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and other Iranian officials to open the country's doors to scientific exchanges with other countries. The First Vice-President, Parviz Davoudi, the Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Mohammad-Mahdi Zahedi, and the Minister of Health and Medical Education, Kamran Baqeri Lankarani, were also present at the ceremony. President Ahmadinejad honored top students who had scored high in the national university entrance exams with awards.