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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its regime kill protesters, leading to cautionary statements from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

An Online Declaration Fuels Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, the former president said that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the America would “step in to help”. He noted, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that would involve in practice.

Demonstrations Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Crisis

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, representing the biggest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were sparked by an sharp drop in the national currency on Sunday, with its value dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been reported killed, among them a member of the paramilitary organization. Recordings circulate showing officials carrying shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the video.

National Authorities Deliver Stark Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the supreme leader, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference targeting our national security on pretexts will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

Another leader, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the unrest, a frequent accusation by Tehran in response to protests.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to US assets,” he stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the security of their troops.”

Context of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

Tehran has previously warned against foreign forces stationed in the region in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have occurred in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have gone on strike in protest, and students have gathered on campuses. While financial hardship are the primary complaint, protesters have also voiced anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Stance Changes

The head of state, the president, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. The president said that he had instructed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The fatalities of protesters, however, may indicate that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday stated that it would respond forcefully against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While Iranian authorities grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Officials has stated that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has expressed it is willing to engage in dialogue with the west.