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Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran should its regime use lethal force against protesters, prompting cautionary statements from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

An Online Declaration Ignites Diplomatic Strain

In a social media post on recently, Trump said that if the country were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that might mean in reality.

Unrest Continue into the Sixth Day Amid Economic Crisis

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, representing the largest in recent memory. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a historic low, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Recordings reportedly show officials carrying firearms, with the sound of shooting present in the background.

Tehran's Authorities Issue Firm Responses

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand targeting Iran security on any excuse will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the unrest, a common refrain by the government when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the damage to Washington's stakes,” the official stated. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the security of their military personnel.”

Recent History of Strain and Protest Scope

The nation has vowed to strike US troops deployed in the region in the past, and in June it attacked a facility in the Gulf following the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The present unrest have taken place in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have closed their stores in solidarity, and youth have gathered on university grounds. While economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and condemned what they said was failures by officials.

Presidential Response Evolves

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with demonstration organizers, taking a less confrontational approach than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. The president said that he had instructed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of demonstrators, though, suggest that authorities are taking a harder line as they address the protests as they continue. A communiqué from the powerful military force on recently cautioned that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

As the government grapple with protests at home, it has sought to counter claims from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Tehran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has indicated it is open for dialogue with the west.