Speaking at a meeting with university professors in Tehran on Saturday, Aref said that the government’s preparedness had prevented the enemy from eroding the nation’s social trust amid “heavy pressure” on the people’s livelihood.

He referred to the 12-day imposed war in June and said that “after failing in the military arena, the enemy shifted its strategy” and fueled the nationwide protests in the country last month, leading to what he described as “part of a strategy aimed at collapse and attempted quasi-coup.”

Aref, however, said that the attempt was thwarted by the public turnout on January 12.

The vice president called for a precise and scientific analysis of the January events to prevent their recurrence.