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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its government harm demonstrators, prompting warnings from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

A Public Statement Ignites Tensions

Via a social media post on Friday, Trump stated that if the country were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that might mean in reality.

Protests Enter the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, representing the biggest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were triggered by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on recently, with its worth dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, worsening an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown officials armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the video.

Iranian Leaders Deliver Firm Warnings

In response to the intervention warning, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand targeting the country's stability on false pretenses will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani wrote.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the US and Israel of having a hand in the unrest, a typical response by Tehran in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the security of their soldiers.”

Context of Conflict and Protest Scope

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

The present unrest have occurred in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Merchants have gone on strike in solidarity, and youth have gathered on campuses. While the currency crisis are the primary complaint, protesters have also chanted calls for change and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Approach Shifts

The Iranian president, the president, offered talks with representatives, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. The president stated that he had directed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The loss of life of protesters, however, suggest that authorities are becoming more forceful as they address the protests as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently warned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

As Iranian authorities face domestic dissent, it has sought to counter allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Iran has said that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has indicated it is ready for talks with the international community.