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Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran if its authorities kill demonstrators, leading to admonishments from Iran's leadership that any American interference would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Statement Fuels Tensions

In a online statement on recently, the former president stated that if the country were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “step in to help”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that might mean in reality.

Demonstrations Enter the Next Phase Amid Economic Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, marking the most significant in recent memory. The present demonstrations were sparked by an sharp drop in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value dropping to about a historic low, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a member of the state-affiliated group. Videos have shown law enforcement armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Deliver Stark Rebukes

In response to the statement, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, stated that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any foreign interference targeting our national security on pretexts will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he said.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the outside actors of being involved in the unrest, a common refrain by the government when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to instability across the whole region and the harm to American interests,” he stated. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the security of their military personnel.”

Recent History of Tensions and Protest Scope

Iran has vowed to strike American soldiers based in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have gone on strike in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, protesters have also chanted anti-government slogans and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Response Shifts

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. The president stated that he had instructed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of protesters, however, suggest that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they continue. A announcement from the powerful military force on recently stated that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While the government deal with protests at home, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Officials has stated that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.