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The former president has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic should its authorities harm demonstrators, leading to warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Ignites Diplomatic Strain

In a public declaration on recently, Trump declared that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the US would “step in to help”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that could entail in reality.

Protests Continue into the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Economic Crisis

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, representing the most significant since 2022. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been lost their lives, including a member of the paramilitary organization. Videos have shown law enforcement armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Issue Strong Responses

In response to the statement, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, stated that internal matters were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand nearing the country's stability on pretexts will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official said.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, alleged the outside actors of orchestrating the demonstrations, a typical response by the government when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to instability across the whole region and the harm to Washington's stakes,” Larijani stated. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the security of their soldiers.”

Recent History of Conflict and Protest Scope

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers based in the Middle East in the past, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and activists have gathered on university grounds. Though economic conditions are the central grievance, protesters have also voiced political demands and condemned what they said was failures by officials.

Official Approach Evolves

The nation's leader, the president, initially invited protest leaders, taking a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. The president noted that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, however, suggest that officials are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they persist. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on recently warned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

As the government face internal challenges, it has sought to counter accusations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Tehran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has signaled it is willing to engage in dialogue with the west.