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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its government use lethal force against protesters, resulting in admonishments from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Public Statement Ignites Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, Trump said that if the country were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the United States would “step in to help”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without clarifying what that would involve in actual terms.

Protests Continue into the Sixth Day Amid Economic Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, marking the largest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an sharp drop in the national currency on recently, with its value falling to about a record depreciation, intensifying an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Videos reportedly show security forces armed with shotguns, with the sound of shooting audible in the video.

Iranian Officials Issue Firm Rebukes

In response to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on any excuse will be cut off with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani posted.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the demonstrations, a frequent accusation by the government when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the harm to American interests,” he wrote. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the safety of their soldiers.”

Context of Strain and Protest Nature

Iran has previously warned against US troops stationed in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf following the US struck related infrastructure.

The present unrest have occurred in the capital but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have gathered on university grounds. Though economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also voiced political demands and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Response Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. He stated that he had directed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, though, suggest that authorities are taking a harder line against the protests as they persist. A statement from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

As Tehran deal with protests at home, it has attempted to refute accusations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Tehran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has indicated it is ready for talks with the international community.