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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its government use lethal force against demonstrators, prompting warnings from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Post Fuels Tensions

In a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that could entail in reality.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Economic Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, marking the most significant in recent memory. The current unrest were catalyzed by an steep fall in the national currency on recently, with its worth falling to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a member of the state-affiliated group. Recordings reportedly show security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges heard in the background.

Tehran's Officials Issue Strong Rebukes

In response to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement targeting the country's stability on any excuse will be cut off with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani said.

Another leader, Ali Larijani, alleged the foreign powers of being involved in the unrest, a typical response by Tehran when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the damage to American interests,” the official stated. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their military personnel.”

Context of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

The nation has previously warned against foreign forces stationed in the region in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf following the US struck related infrastructure.

The current protests have been centered in the capital but have also reached other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and activists have gathered on university grounds. Though financial hardship are the primary complaint, protesters have also chanted political demands and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Approach Evolves

The nation's leader, the president, first called for demonstration organizers, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, however, may indicate that officials are becoming more forceful as they address the protests as they continue. A statement from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

As Iranian authorities deal with protests at home, it has attempted to refute allegations from the United States that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Officials has said that it is ceased such work at present and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the international community.