Two machines resembling robotic vacuum cleaners sped around a ring colliding, shooting sparks and catching fire, as Iranian engineering students watched from behind plexiglass.

The dramatic clash was just one of many opportunities for competitors to go head-to-head at the country’s Tech Olympics, to determine the future of its engineering talents.

Iran aspires to become a key regional player in emerging technologies, despite decades of international sanctions that have stifled its development.

The fields at this year’s competition included robot battles, programming, artificial intelligence, as well as drones, cybersecurity and connected devices.

A few hours before his event, Alireza Hosseini put the final touches on combat robot Arash — a rudimentary machine of wires and wheels withou

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