Speaking to Khabar Online, he however opined: "Basically it was a tactless and irrational measure taken by the opposition leaders [Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi] who asked to be given permission for staging a rally on February 14, since three days earlier (anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory on February 11, 1978) demonstrators had announced their support of uprisings of people in Tunisia and Egypt."
Iranian Principlist lawmaker Ali Mottahari says before 30 December up to February 14, many pro-government media, above all the Islamic Republic of Iran's Broadcasting (IRIB) and some newspapers challenged and provoked anti-government protesters to come to streets.