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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran should its authorities harm demonstrators, leading to warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Post Ignites Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that could entail in practice.

Protests Continue into the New Week Against a Backdrop of Economic Crisis

Public unrest are now in their second week, marking the largest in several years. The ongoing protests were sparked by an sharp drop in the country's money on recently, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a member of the Basij security force. Footage circulate showing security forces carrying shotguns, with the noise of discharges heard in the background.

National Officials Deliver Firm Rebukes

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any foreign interference approaching our national security on any excuse will be met with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, accused the foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest, a common refrain by officials when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” Larijani stated. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their soldiers.”

Recent History of Strain and Protest Scope

Iran has previously warned against foreign forces deployed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar after the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have shuttered businesses in protest, and activists have gathered on university grounds. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, protesters have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Stance Shifts

The Iranian president, the president, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. The president said that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of protesters, though, may indicate that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday stated that it would respond forcefully against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

While the government deal with internal challenges, it has tried to stave off allegations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Iran has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium at present and has expressed it is ready for negotiations with the international community.