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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic should its regime use lethal force against protesters, leading to admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Declaration Fuels Tensions

Through a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, 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 actual terms.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Economic Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, constituting the most significant since 2022. The ongoing protests were sparked by an sharp drop in the national currency on Sunday, with its value plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been reported killed, including a member of the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges present in the recordings.

National Leaders Deliver Strong Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand approaching the country's stability on any excuse will be severed with a swift consequence,” the official wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, accused the foreign powers of being involved in the unrest, a frequent accusation by officials in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference 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 well-being of their troops.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Scope

Tehran has vowed to strike US troops based in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and students have gathered on university grounds. While the currency crisis are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Response Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for representatives, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had instructed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The recent deaths of protesters, however, may indicate that the state are taking a harder line as they address the protests as they persist. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday warned that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While the government grapple with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Officials has said that it is ceased such work domestically and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the international community.