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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in the Islamic Republic if its authorities harm protesters, leading to warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Via a public declaration on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to use deadly force against protesters, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that could entail in practice.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the largest in several years. The current unrest were sparked by an sharp drop in the national currency on recently, with its worth plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Multiple individuals have been reported killed, among them a member of the paramilitary organization. Recordings reportedly show law enforcement carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

National Officials Deliver Firm Warnings

In response to the intervention warning, a top adviser, adviser to the supreme leader, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference approaching our national security on false pretenses will be met with a regret-inducing response,” he posted.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the outside actors of being involved in the demonstrations, a common refrain by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this domestic matter will lead to instability across the whole region and the harm to American interests,” he stated. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the security of their troops.”

Recent History of Tensions and Protest Nature

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Merchants have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have gathered on university grounds. While economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also chanted anti-government slogans and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Official Response Shifts

The nation's leader, the president, offered talks with representatives, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president said that he had directed the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The loss of life of demonstrators, however, could signal that the state are taking a harder line as they address the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on Monday warned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

As Iranian authorities deal with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter allegations from the US that it is reconstituting its atomic ambitions. Officials has stated that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has signaled it is open for talks with the international community.