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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its government kill demonstrators, prompting warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Statement Fuels Tensions

In a social media post on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the US would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that would involve in practice.

Protests Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, representing the biggest in several years. The present demonstrations were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value dropping to about a historic low, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Multiple individuals have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the state-affiliated group. Videos circulate showing security forces carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire present in the background.

Tehran's Authorities Issue Firm Responses

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement approaching our national security on any excuse will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official wrote.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by officials in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the destruction of US assets,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the safety of their military personnel.”

Background of Strain and Demonstration Scope

The nation has vowed to strike foreign forces based in the region in the before, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the US struck related infrastructure.

The current protests have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in protest, and youth have taken over campuses. Though financial hardship are the primary complaint, protesters have also chanted anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Stance Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of protesters, however, suggest that the state are becoming more forceful as they address the unrest as they continue. A statement from the powerful military force on recently cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

While Iranian authorities grapple with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter accusations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Iran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.