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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its regime harm demonstrators, prompting admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Post Ignites Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, Trump declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in actual terms.

Demonstrations Enter the New Week Amid Financial Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, marking the biggest since 2022. The current unrest were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on recently, with its worth dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Recordings reportedly show officials armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the background.

Tehran's Officials Issue Strong Responses

In response to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the supreme leader, stated that the nation's sovereignty were a “red line, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand targeting Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani posted.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the US and Israel of having a hand in the protests, a common refrain by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the damage to Washington's stakes,” he declared. “The public must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the security of their troops.”

Context of Conflict and Protest Scope

Iran has previously warned against foreign forces deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar after the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The current protests have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other cities, such as a major city. Merchants have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have gathered on campuses. While the currency crisis are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Official Stance Shifts

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. He said that he had instructed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of protesters, however, could signal that authorities are taking a harder line against the unrest as they persist. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently warned that it would respond forcefully against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran grapple with protests at home, it has sought to counter accusations from the US that it is reconstituting its atomic ambitions. Iran has said that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has indicated it is ready for talks with the west.