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The former president has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its authorities kill protesters, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Via a social media post on Friday, Trump said that if the country were to fire upon protesters, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without explaining what that would involve in reality.

Unrest Enter the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, constituting the most significant in several years. The ongoing protests were triggered by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Footage reportedly show officials carrying shotguns, with the sound of shooting audible in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Issue Firm Responses

In response to the statement, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand nearing our national security on false pretenses will be met with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani posted.

Another senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, alleged the outside actors of having a hand in the protests, a typical response by the government when addressing domestic dissent.

“Washington needs to know that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the destruction of US assets,” he declared. “The public must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the safety of their soldiers.”

Context of Tensions and Protest Scale

The nation has threatened to target US troops stationed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the US struck related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and activists have gathered on university grounds. Though economic conditions are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Approach Shifts

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, taking a softer stance than the government did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of protesters, though, may indicate that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

While Iranian authorities deal with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter claims from the United States that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Tehran has said that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has signaled it is open for talks with the west.