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Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic if its regime kill demonstrators, resulting in warnings from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

An Online Statement Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Through a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that could entail in reality.

Demonstrations Continue into the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Financial Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, representing the largest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an sharp drop in the country's money on Sunday, with its value plummeting to about a historic low, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage reportedly show security forces carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Iranian Officials Issue Firm Rebukes

Reacting to the intervention warning, an official, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference targeting Iran security on pretexts will be severed with a swift consequence,” he wrote.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a typical response by Tehran when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to US assets,” the official declared. “The public must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should be concerned for the safety of their military personnel.”

Context of Strain and Demonstration Nature

The nation has vowed to strike US troops stationed in the Middle East in the past, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have been centered in the capital but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in solidarity, and students have taken over university grounds. Though financial hardship are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Official Approach Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. He said that he had directed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, however, could signal that authorities are taking a harder line as they address the protests as they continue. A statement from the state security apparatus on recently cautioned that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “sedition” in the country.

While the government face internal challenges, it has tried to stave off accusations from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Officials has stated that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has indicated it is open for negotiations with the west.