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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its regime kill protesters, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

A Public Declaration Ignites Tensions

Via a public declaration on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that could entail in actual terms.

Unrest Enter the New Week Against a Backdrop of Financial Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, marking the biggest in recent memory. The present demonstrations were sparked by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its worth dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a member of the paramilitary organization. Videos have shown law enforcement armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the background.

Iranian Authorities Issue Strong Rebukes

Addressing the intervention warning, an official, adviser to the supreme leader, warned that internal matters were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand nearing our national security on any excuse will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the outside actors of having a hand in the unrest, a typical response by the government when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the damage to US assets,” the official stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should pay attention to the safety of their troops.”

Background of Tensions and Protest Nature

Iran has threatened to target foreign forces stationed in the region in the before, and in recent months it attacked a facility in the Gulf following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Merchants have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and activists have taken over campuses. While financial hardship are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Presidential Stance Shifts

The nation's leader, the president, first called for protest leaders, taking a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president noted that he had directed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of protesters, however, suggest that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they continue. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While the government grapple with protests at home, it has tried to stave off claims from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Iran has said that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the international community.