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Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic should its government use lethal force against protesters, prompting admonishments from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Statement Ignites Diplomatic Strain

In a social media post on recently, the former president declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that could entail in reality.

Protests Continue into the New Week Amid Financial Crisis

Public unrest are now in their second week, constituting the largest in several years. The current unrest were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on recently, with its value plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a member of the Basij security force. Recordings circulate showing security forces armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting heard in the video.

Iranian Authorities Issue Firm Rebukes

In response to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the supreme leader, warned that internal matters were a “definitive boundary, not fodder for online provocations”.

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

Another leader, Ali Larijani, claimed the foreign powers of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by the government in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the damage to American interests,” he wrote. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the security of their troops.”

Context of Tensions and Protest Scale

Iran has vowed to strike American soldiers stationed in the region in the before, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in the capital but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have taken over campuses. While the currency crisis are the central grievance, protesters have also chanted anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Response Changes

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. He said that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, could, suggest that officials are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they persist. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with internal challenges, it has sought to counter claims from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Iran has stated that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has signaled it is willing to engage in dialogue with the international community.