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

An Online Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Via a social media post on Friday, the former president declared that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that might mean in practice.

Demonstrations Enter the Next Phase Amid Financial Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the largest since 2022. The current unrest were catalyzed by an steep fall in the national currency on recently, with its value plummeting to about a record depreciation, worsening an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been lost their lives, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Recordings have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the noise of discharges heard in the video.

Tehran's Authorities Deliver Strong Responses

Addressing Trump’s threat, an official, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any foreign interference nearing our national security on any excuse will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official said.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the US and Israel of having a hand in the demonstrations, a typical response by officials when addressing domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that US intervention in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” Larijani stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the security of their military personnel.”

Background of Strain and Demonstration Nature

The nation has vowed to strike US troops stationed in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked a facility in Qatar following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have occurred in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and students have taken over university grounds. While the currency crisis are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Government Approach Evolves

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited representatives, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were met with force. He said that he had ordered the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of demonstrators, however, suggest that authorities are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they persist. A announcement from the state security apparatus on recently warned that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute claims from the US that it is reconstituting its nuclear activities. Tehran has stated that it is no longer enriching uranium anywhere in the country and has signaled it is willing to engage in dialogue with the international community.