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Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran if its government use lethal force against demonstrators, leading to cautionary statements from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any American interference would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Statement Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Through a online statement on Friday, the former president said that if the country were to fire upon demonstrators, the America would “come to their rescue”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that could entail in actual terms.

Demonstrations Enter the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Economic Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, marking the biggest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been reported killed, among them a member of the Basij security force. Footage circulate showing officials armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the background.

Iranian Officials Issue Strong Warnings

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “red line, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement nearing the country's stability on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, claimed the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a common refrain by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to instability across the entire area and the harm to US assets,” he stated. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the security of their soldiers.”

Background of Strain and Protest Nature

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers stationed in the region in the past, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the US struck related infrastructure.

The present unrest have taken place in the capital but have also extended to other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. While financial hardship are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Approach Changes

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. The president said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The fatalities of protesters, though, suggest that officials are becoming more forceful as they address the unrest as they persist. 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 the government deal with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear programme. Officials has said that it is no longer enriching uranium anywhere in the country and has expressed it is ready for talks with the west.