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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its authorities use lethal force against demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Ignites Diplomatic Strain

Via a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that would involve in actual terms.

Protests Continue into the New Week Amid Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, constituting the biggest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an steep fall in the country's money on recently, with its value dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an precarious economic situation.

Multiple individuals have been lost their lives, including a member of the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown law enforcement armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges audible in the background.

Tehran's Officials Issue Firm Rebukes

In response to the statement, an official, adviser to the country's highest authority, cautioned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement approaching Iran security on any excuse will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest, a frequent accusation by Tehran in response to protests.

“The US should understand that US intervention in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the damage to US assets,” he stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their troops.”

Context of Conflict and Protest Scope

Iran has threatened to target American soldiers based in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have taken place in Tehran but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Merchants have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have gathered on university grounds. While financial hardship are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and condemned what they said was failures by officials.

Official Response Shifts

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited representatives, adopting a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. The president said that he had ordered the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The loss of life of protesters, however, could signal that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they persist. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran deal with domestic dissent, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Tehran has said that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.