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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its authorities harm protesters, leading to cautionary statements from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Post Fuels Tensions

Through a online statement on Friday, Trump said that if the country were to fire upon demonstrators, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that would involve in practice.

Unrest Enter the New Week Against a Backdrop of Economic Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, marking the largest since 2022. The present demonstrations were catalyzed by an steep fall in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth falling to about a historic low, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the paramilitary organization. Recordings circulate showing security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the recordings.

Tehran's Officials Deliver Strong Responses

Reacting to the statement, an official, adviser to the country's highest authority, cautioned that internal matters were a “red line, not a subject for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement approaching Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” he said.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, accused the foreign powers of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by officials in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the harm to American interests,” Larijani declared. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the safety of their military personnel.”

Recent History of Conflict and Protest Scale

The nation has vowed to strike American soldiers stationed in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The present unrest have been centered in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and youth have gathered on campuses. Though financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Response Changes

The head of state, the president, initially invited demonstration organizers, adopting a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian noted that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of protesters, though, could signal that the state are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

As the government deal with protests at home, it has tried to stave off claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Officials has claimed that it is ceased such work domestically and has indicated it is ready for dialogue with the west.