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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its regime use lethal force against protesters, prompting warnings from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Declaration Ignites Tensions

Through a online statement on recently, Trump declared that if the country were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that could entail in reality.

Demonstrations Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Strain

Public unrest are now in their second week, marking the largest since 2022. The present demonstrations were sparked by an steep fall in the national currency on Sunday, with its value falling to about a historic low, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Footage have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the noise of discharges heard in the recordings.

Iranian Officials Issue Strong Rebukes

Reacting to Trump’s threat, an official, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement targeting our national security on pretexts will be met with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

Another senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, claimed the outside actors of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by officials when addressing domestic dissent.

“Washington needs to know that US intervention in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the harm to American interests,” the official stated. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the safety of their soldiers.”

Background of Conflict and Protest Nature

Iran has previously warned against American soldiers based in the region in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have been centered in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in protest, and students have taken over university grounds. While the currency crisis are the central grievance, demonstrators have also chanted calls for change and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Response Evolves

The nation's leader, the president, offered talks with protest leaders, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. The president stated that he had ordered the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of protesters, though, may indicate that authorities are taking a harder line as they address the protests as they persist. A announcement from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “sedition” in the country.

While Iranian authorities face internal challenges, it has attempted to refute allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Tehran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has expressed it is open for talks with the international community.