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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran if its government harm protesters, prompting warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Via a social media post on recently, the former president declared that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the America would “step in to help”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that might mean in actual terms.

Protests Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the most significant in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an steep fall in the country's money on Sunday, with its worth falling to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Multiple individuals have been reported killed, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage reportedly show law enforcement carrying firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the recordings.

National Authorities Issue Firm Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “red line, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on any excuse will be met with a forceful retaliation,” the official posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, alleged the US and Israel of having a hand in the unrest, a frequent accusation by Tehran in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the damage to American interests,” he declared. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should consider the well-being of their troops.”

Recent History of Conflict and Demonstration Scale

Iran has vowed to strike American soldiers stationed in the region in the before, and in June it attacked a facility in the Gulf following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Merchants have gone on strike in solidarity, and youth have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced anti-government slogans and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Stance Shifts

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for demonstration organizers, taking a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president said that he had directed the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The recent deaths of protesters, though, could signal that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they continue. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

As Tehran deal with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Iran has said that it is ceased such work domestically and has expressed it is open for talks with the international community.