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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its government kill protesters, prompting cautionary statements from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any US intervention would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Post Fuels Tensions

Through a public declaration on recently, Trump declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the US would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that might mean in practice.

Demonstrations Enter the Sixth Day Amid Financial Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, constituting the biggest since 2022. The current unrest were catalyzed by an steep fall in the country's money on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been reported killed, including a member of the Basij security force. Videos reportedly show security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges audible in the recordings.

Iranian Officials Deliver Firm Rebukes

Addressing the intervention warning, an official, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement targeting Iran security on pretexts will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he wrote.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the unrest, a common refrain by the government when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to American interests,” Larijani stated. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the well-being of their military personnel.”

Context of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

Iran has previously warned against US troops based in the Middle East in the past, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar after the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in the capital but have also spread to other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and students have gathered on university grounds. Though financial hardship are the central grievance, protesters have also chanted calls for change and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Stance Shifts

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, adopting a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of protesters, however, suggest that officials are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they continue. A statement from the state security apparatus on Monday cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

While the government face domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off claims from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Tehran has stated that it is ceased such work domestically and has signaled it is willing to engage in negotiations with the international community.