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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic should its regime use lethal force against demonstrators, leading to admonishments from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Public Post Escalates Tensions

Via a online statement on Friday, the former president said that if the country were to use deadly force against protesters, the US would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without explaining what that would involve in practice.

Demonstrations Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Strain

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, constituting the most significant in several years. The ongoing protests were sparked by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its worth falling to about a historic low, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Videos have shown law enforcement armed with shotguns, with the sound of shooting heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Authorities Deliver Strong Rebukes

Reacting to the intervention warning, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, cautioned that internal matters were a “definitive boundary, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any foreign interference targeting the country's stability on any excuse will be cut off with a swift consequence,” the official wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the foreign powers of being involved in the demonstrations, a typical response by officials in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the damage to Washington's stakes,” he stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the well-being of their military personnel.”

Context of Strain and Demonstration Nature

Iran has previously warned against foreign forces based in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar following the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Merchants have gone on strike in solidarity, and activists have taken over campuses. Though economic conditions are the central grievance, demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Approach Evolves

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president said that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The loss of life of protesters, could, suggest that the state are taking a harder line against the protests as they continue. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter allegations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Iran has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium anywhere in the country and has expressed it is ready for talks with the international community.