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The former president has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its authorities use lethal force against protesters, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Statement Fuels Tensions

Through a social media post on recently, Trump said that if the country were to fire upon demonstrators, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that would involve in practice.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, constituting the biggest since 2022. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on Sunday, with its value dropping to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the paramilitary organization. Videos have shown officials carrying firearms, with the sound of shooting present in the background.

Iranian Officials Deliver Strong Responses

In response to Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on any excuse will be cut off with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the foreign powers of being involved in the unrest, a frequent accusation by Tehran when addressing protests.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the harm to US assets,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the security of their soldiers.”

Context of Conflict and Protest Scale

Tehran has vowed to strike US troops based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have been centered in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have shuttered businesses in protest, and youth have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the central grievance, protesters have also chanted calls for change and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Approach Changes

The nation's leader, the president, offered talks with protest leaders, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were met with force. He noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, could, could signal that authorities are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they persist. A statement from the state security apparatus on Monday cautioned that it would respond forcefully against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with protests at home, it has sought to counter accusations from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Tehran has said that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has expressed it is ready for dialogue with the west.