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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its regime use lethal force against protesters, leading to warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Declaration Fuels Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, Trump declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that could entail in actual terms.

Demonstrations Enter the New Week Amid Economic Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, constituting the biggest since 2022. The present demonstrations were triggered by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth falling to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Videos reportedly show officials carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the video.

National Authorities Deliver Stark Responses

In response to Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on false pretenses will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official said.

Another senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, alleged the outside actors of having a hand in the protests, a typical response by Tehran when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” he stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their soldiers.”

Recent History of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

The nation has vowed to strike American soldiers deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The current protests have taken place in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and activists have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also chanted political demands and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Presidential Approach Evolves

The Iranian president, the president, initially invited protest leaders, adopting a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The loss of life of demonstrators, though, could signal that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they persist. A statement from the powerful military force on recently warned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran deal with protests at home, it has attempted to refute accusations from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Tehran has said that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has expressed it is willing to engage in negotiations with the west.