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The former president has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its authorities use lethal force against demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Through a public declaration on Friday, Trump declared that if the country were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “step in to help”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that would involve in reality.

Protests Continue into the New Week Amid Economic Strain

Public unrest are now in their second week, marking the largest in recent memory. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value falling to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, including a member of the paramilitary organization. Footage have shown security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the video.

Tehran's Authorities Issue Strong Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any foreign interference nearing our national security on false pretenses will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani said.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, accused the foreign powers of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the damage to American interests,” Larijani stated. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers.”

Background of Conflict and Demonstration Nature

Iran has previously warned against US troops deployed in the region in the before, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in the capital but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and youth have taken over university grounds. While the currency crisis are the main issue, demonstrators have also voiced anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Stance Shifts

The nation's leader, the president, offered talks with protest leaders, taking a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were met with force. He stated that he had directed the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The loss of life of demonstrators, could, may indicate that officials are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they persist. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While the government face protests at home, it has tried to stave off accusations from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Iran has said that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.