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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its authorities kill demonstrators, prompting admonishments from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

An Online Declaration Ignites Tensions

Through a online statement on recently, the former president said that if Iran were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that might mean in reality.

Unrest Continue into the New Week Amid Financial Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, marking the biggest since 2022. The present demonstrations were sparked by an sharp drop in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth falling to about a record depreciation, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Recordings reportedly show officials armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire present in the background.

National Leaders Issue Firm Responses

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not material for online provocations”.

“Any foreign interference approaching Iran security on any excuse will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, claimed the US and Israel of having a hand in the protests, a frequent accusation by the government when addressing domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the destruction of US assets,” the official declared. “The public must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their troops.”

Background of Conflict and Demonstration Scale

Tehran has previously warned against US troops deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and activists have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Presidential Approach Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, adopting a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. He stated that he had instructed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, however, could signal that the state are becoming more forceful as they address the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on recently warned that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

As the government face internal challenges, it has tried to stave off claims from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Iran has said that it is no longer enriching uranium anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for dialogue with the west.