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The former president has threatened to intervene in Iran should its government harm demonstrators, prompting cautionary statements from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Post Escalates Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that might mean in reality.

Demonstrations Enter the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, constituting the most significant in recent memory. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on Sunday, with its value falling to about a historic low, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Footage circulate showing officials carrying shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Issue Firm Rebukes

Addressing the statement, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, stated that internal matters were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference approaching the country's stability on false pretenses will be severed with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, claimed the foreign powers of having a hand in the demonstrations, a typical response by Tehran when addressing protests.

“Washington needs to know that American involvement in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the damage to American interests,” the official wrote. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the security of their troops.”

Context of Tensions and Protest Scale

Tehran has previously warned against foreign forces stationed in the region in the before, and in June it attacked a facility in Qatar following the US struck related infrastructure.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in protest, and youth have gathered on university grounds. While financial hardship are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced anti-government slogans and criticized what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Government Response Evolves

The head of state, the president, initially invited protest leaders, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. The president noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of protesters, however, could signal that authorities are taking a harder line against the unrest as they persist. A statement from the state security apparatus on recently warned that it would respond forcefully against any foreign interference or “sedition” in the country.

While the government face internal challenges, it has attempted to refute accusations from the United States that it is rebuilding its atomic ambitions. Tehran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has expressed it is ready for talks with the west.