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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its government use lethal force against demonstrators, prompting warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any American interference would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Via a public declaration on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that would involve in practice.

Protests Enter the New Week Amid Financial Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, constituting the largest in recent memory. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on recently, with its worth dropping to about a historic low, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the video.

National Authorities Issue Stark Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, an official, adviser to the country's highest authority, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement targeting Iran security on false pretenses will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

Another leader, a key security official, alleged the outside actors of having a hand in the protests, a typical response by officials in response to protests.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the harm to American interests,” he wrote. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should consider the security of their troops.”

Context of Strain and Protest Nature

Iran has previously warned against foreign forces stationed in the region in the past, and in June it attacked a facility in Qatar following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have occurred in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Merchants have gone on strike in protest, and youth have gathered on university grounds. While the currency crisis are the main issue, protesters have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Stance Shifts

The Iranian president, the president, initially invited protest leaders, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. The president stated that he had ordered the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The loss of life of protesters, however, suggest that authorities are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on recently cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

As the government deal with protests at home, it has sought to counter accusations from the United States that it is rebuilding its atomic ambitions. Tehran has stated that it is no longer enriching uranium at present and has expressed it is open for talks with the west.