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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its authorities kill protesters, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Statement Fuels Diplomatic Strain

In a online statement on recently, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the America would “step in to help”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in practice.

Protests Enter the New Week Against a Backdrop of Financial Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, marking the largest in several years. The current unrest were sparked by an steep fall in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Footage reportedly show security forces carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the video.

Iranian Authorities Issue Strong Warnings

Reacting to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement approaching our national security on false pretenses will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

Another leader, a key security official, alleged the US and Israel of orchestrating the demonstrations, a common refrain by the government in response to protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the damage to Washington's stakes,” the official wrote. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the safety of their soldiers.”

Context of Conflict and Demonstration Nature

Iran has previously warned against American soldiers deployed in the Middle East in the before, and in recent months it attacked a facility in the Gulf following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in Tehran but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have taken over campuses. While economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also chanted calls for change and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Official Stance Changes

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for representatives, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president stated that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, however, could signal that officials are taking a harder line against the protests as they persist. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently stated that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While Iranian authorities grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute claims from the US that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Officials has said that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the international community.