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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran if its authorities use lethal force against protesters, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Declaration Escalates Tensions

Via a online statement on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that would involve in actual terms.

Protests Enter the New Week Amid Economic Strain

Public unrest are now in their latest phase, marking the largest in several years. The present demonstrations were triggered by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its worth plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a member of the Basij security force. Footage have shown law enforcement carrying firearms, with the noise of discharges heard in the background.

Iranian Leaders Deliver Strong Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any intervening hand targeting our national security on any excuse will be met with a swift consequence,” the official posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, claimed the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a common refrain by Tehran in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the harm to US assets,” the official wrote. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their troops.”

Context of Strain and Protest Scale

Iran has vowed to strike foreign forces deployed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the US struck related infrastructure.

The present unrest have taken place in the capital but have also spread to other cities, such as a major city. Merchants have gone on strike in protest, and activists have taken over university grounds. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Presidential Stance Evolves

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

The recent deaths of protesters, though, suggest that authorities are becoming more forceful against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the state security apparatus on Monday cautioned that it would respond forcefully against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While Tehran grapple with domestic dissent, it has attempted to refute allegations from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Officials has stated that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has indicated it is open for negotiations with the west.