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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran should its regime kill protesters, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Post Escalates Tensions

In a online statement on recently, the former president said that if the country were to use deadly force against protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in actual terms.

Protests Enter the Next Phase Amid Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, marking the most significant since 2022. The ongoing protests were triggered by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its value plummeting to about a historic low, intensifying an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a member of the paramilitary organization. Recordings have shown officials armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting heard in the video.

Iranian Officials Issue Strong Warnings

Reacting to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand nearing the country's stability on pretexts will be met with a forceful retaliation,” he said.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the foreign powers of orchestrating the unrest, a frequent accusation by the government in response to protests.

“The US should understand that US intervention in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the harm to American interests,” he wrote. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the safety of their troops.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Scope

Tehran has threatened to target US troops stationed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf after the US struck related infrastructure.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and activists have taken over campuses. Though financial hardship are the central grievance, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Approach Evolves

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

The loss of life of demonstrators, could, may indicate that officials are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

As Iranian authorities face domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the US that it is reviving its nuclear programme. Iran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has signaled it is willing to engage in negotiations with the west.