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Donald Trump has stated he would step in in the Islamic Republic should its authorities use lethal force against demonstrators, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Ignites Tensions

Via a online statement on recently, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that might mean in actual terms.

Unrest Enter the New Week Amid Financial Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the largest since 2022. The present demonstrations were catalyzed by an sharp drop in the national currency on recently, with its value dropping to about a historic low, worsening an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the paramilitary organization. Footage reportedly show law enforcement carrying firearms, with the noise of discharges heard in the recordings.

Iranian Leaders Deliver Firm Warnings

Reacting to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, stated that internal matters were a “red line, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any foreign interference targeting Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, alleged the US and Israel of being involved in the demonstrations, a typical response by the government when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the damage to American interests,” the official declared. “The public must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should be concerned for the security of their soldiers.”

Background of Tensions and Protest Nature

Tehran has vowed to strike US troops deployed in the region in the before, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in protest, and youth have taken over campuses. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Government Stance Evolves

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with demonstration organizers, taking a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, however, suggest that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they persist. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with protests at home, it has tried to stave off accusations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear programme. Officials has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has indicated it is ready for talks with the international community.