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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran if its government kill demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Statement Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, Trump declared that if the country were to use deadly force against protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “our response is imminent,” without explaining what that might mean in practice.

Protests Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, representing the biggest since 2022. The current unrest were triggered by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a record depreciation, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the Basij security force. Footage circulate showing law enforcement armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Authorities Deliver Firm Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, stated that internal matters were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement nearing the country's stability on any excuse will be met with a regret-inducing response,” he said.

A separate high-ranking figure, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the foreign powers of orchestrating the demonstrations, a common refrain by the government in response to domestic dissent.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the harm to American interests,” Larijani declared. “The public must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the security of their soldiers.”

Context of Tensions and Protest Nature

The nation has previously warned against US troops stationed in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have been centered in the capital but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in solidarity, and students have taken over university grounds. While the currency crisis are the central grievance, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Presidential Approach Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited representatives, adopting a softer stance than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian said that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, could, could signal that officials are becoming more forceful as they address the unrest as they continue. A statement from the powerful military force on recently cautioned that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

While Iranian authorities grapple with protests at home, it has attempted to refute accusations from the US that it is reconstituting its nuclear activities. Officials has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has signaled it is ready for dialogue with the international community.