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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in Iran if its regime harm protesters, prompting cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Declaration Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, the former president declared that if the country were to fire upon demonstrators, the US would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that could entail in reality.

Unrest Enter the New Week Against a Backdrop of Economic Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their latest phase, representing the biggest since 2022. The present demonstrations were triggered by an sharp drop in the national currency on recently, with its worth plummeting to about a historic low, intensifying an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the Basij security force. Videos have shown law enforcement carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire audible in the recordings.

Iranian Authorities Deliver Stark Warnings

Addressing the statement, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, cautioned that internal matters were a “definitive boundary, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference approaching the country's stability on any excuse will be met with a regret-inducing response,” the official said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the US and Israel of orchestrating the demonstrations, a frequent accusation by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to US assets,” Larijani stated. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers.”

Recent History of Strain and Demonstration Nature

Iran has threatened to target US troops stationed in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have been centered in the capital but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. 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 political demands and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Government Stance Shifts

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the previous unrest, which were met with force. Pezeshkian noted that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of demonstrators, though, may indicate that authorities are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they persist. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday cautioned that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran face protests at home, it has attempted to refute accusations from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Tehran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has expressed it is open for talks with the international community.