Powerful challenges to the Iranian regime's dictatorship have inundated Khamenei's regime over the past three months.  The uprising in 190 cities, with 1,500 dead and 12,000 arrested, was made visible to the outside world despite attempts by the regime to conceal it by closing down the internet.  The uprising in Iraq and the elimination of Qassem Soleimani as the strategic commander inflicted an irreparable blow on the regime.  Iran's economy is suffering from inflation, corruption, and looting by the IRGC.  The International Monetary Fund reported a reduction of foreign exchange reserves and deepening economic recession for Iran over the next five years.  It also announced a reduction of $40 billion in reserves in Iran's currency in the last two years.

Additionally, France, Britain, and Germany have officially announced the launch of the trigger mechanism for withdrawing from the nuclear deal.  U.S. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. expects international sanctions on Iran to be restored immediately.  Fear of punishment has taken a firm grip on the repressive forces.

Dozens of social activists, artists, musicians, cinemas, and theaters, as well as athletes from the national teams of Iran, have gone on strike in public protest over the shooting down of the Ukrainian passenger plane.

Moreover, the Iranian government's and the Guardian Council's political dispute over the disqualification of candidates for the next election is reaching its climax.

In such circumstances, Khamenei intends to hold a Friday prayer this week (after eight years of absence) at Tehran's Mosalla (central mosque).

Unprecedented efforts to mobilize the populace in support of the event have begun.  The regime announced free meals at the  Mosalla, free buses, free Wi-Fi calling cards, and ample facilities.  Threats and appeals to attend the event are being widely used, as with Soleimani's funeral.  Flights over the area for security reasons are already underway.  Professional filmmakers have flown to the site and landed alongside it.

The Resalat Daily (a newspaper affiliated with Khamenei's camp) wrote: "the supreme leader in Friday's prayer will explain the new situation in the country and the region.  His speech will become the chapters for a new era.  In the days that have passed, we witnessed one of the greatest historical events since the assassination of Soleimani."

Khamenei, on the one hand, intends to console his supporters and give them hope and inspiration in the current impasse.  On the other hand, he hopes to tell the opposition that they are obliged to be suppressed.

With so many factors relating to recent events severely weakening the machinery of the regime and, overall, the regional balance of forces, his speech will reflect the progress of resistance units in Iran and the region.

Representing breakthrough or breakdown for the regime, time will tell.