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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic should its authorities use lethal force against demonstrators, resulting in warnings from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Post Ignites Diplomatic Strain

Via a public declaration on recently, the former president declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that would involve in practice.

Protests Continue into the Sixth Day Amid Financial Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, marking the largest in several years. The current unrest were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on Sunday, with its value falling to about a historic low, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the paramilitary organization. Recordings circulate showing officials carrying firearms, with the noise of discharges present in the background.

Iranian Leaders Issue Strong Responses

Reacting to the statement, an official, counselor for the supreme leader, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on any excuse will be met with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani said.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, alleged the foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest, a common refrain by officials in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the damage to US assets,” the official stated. “The public must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the safety of their military personnel.”

Background of Tensions and Protest Scale

Tehran has vowed to strike American soldiers based in the Middle East in the before, and in recent months it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the US struck related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in Tehran but have also reached other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have taken over campuses. While the currency crisis are the primary complaint, protesters have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Government Stance Shifts

The Iranian president, the president, first called for demonstration organizers, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, could, could signal that officials are taking a harder line against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

While Tehran deal with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter accusations from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Officials has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.