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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its authorities harm demonstrators, leading to warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Escalates Tensions

Via a social media post on recently, the former president said that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the US would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that could entail in actual terms.

Demonstrations Enter the New Week Against a Backdrop of Financial Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their latest phase, representing the largest since 2022. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been lost their lives, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Recordings circulate showing officials armed with firearms, with the noise of discharges audible in the recordings.

National Leaders Issue Strong Responses

In response to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the supreme leader, stated that internal matters were a “red line, not material for online provocations”.

“Any intervening hand approaching our national security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” he wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a common refrain by Tehran when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that US intervention in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to American interests,” the official stated. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the safety of their military personnel.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

Tehran has threatened to target American soldiers stationed in the region in the past, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have occurred in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Merchants have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and activists have gathered on campuses. While economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Response Shifts

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for demonstration organizers, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The loss of life of protesters, though, may indicate that the state are taking a harder line as they address the protests as they persist. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

While the government grapple with protests at home, it has attempted to refute allegations from the US that it is reconstituting its nuclear activities. Officials has said that it is ceased such work domestically and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the west.