Jamshid Barzegar, a journalist and political analyst, said that the statements by Friday prayer leaders and military and security commanders about readiness to deal with opponents show that the Islamic Republic is taking seriously the possibility of nationwide protests being resumed.

He added that economic crises, pressures on livelihoods, political deadlock, and the intensification of repression have increased the grounds for discontent. According to Barzegar, the government, by strengthening forces of repression and creating an atmosphere of fear, is trying to prevent a new wave of protests from forming.