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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its regime use lethal force against protesters, leading to warnings from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Declaration Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on recently, the former president said that if the country were to use deadly force against protesters, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that would involve in practice.

Protests Continue into the New Week Amid Financial Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, representing the largest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an sharp drop in the country's money on recently, with its worth plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Deliver Firm Rebukes

Reacting to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement approaching our national security on any excuse will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” the official posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the demonstrations, a common refrain by officials when addressing domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this national affair will lead to instability across the entire area and the harm to American interests,” the official declared. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should consider the well-being of their military personnel.”

Background of Strain and Demonstration Scale

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in the capital but have also extended to other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. Though the currency crisis are the central grievance, protesters have also voiced calls for change and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Approach Evolves

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were met with force. Pezeshkian noted that he had directed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, could, could signal that authorities are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday stated that it would respond forcefully against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

As Tehran face domestic dissent, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Tehran has stated that it is ceased such work at present and has indicated it is open for dialogue with the international community.