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Donald Trump has stated he would step in in Iran if its government use lethal force against protesters, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

An Online Declaration Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on recently, the former president stated that if the country were to use deadly force against protesters, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that would involve in actual terms.

Unrest Continue into the New Week Amid Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their second week, constituting the most significant in several years. The current unrest were sparked by an steep fall in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a record depreciation, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the Basij security force. Recordings reportedly show officials armed with shotguns, with the audio of gunfire audible in the recordings.

National Authorities Issue Strong Rebukes

Addressing the statement, an official, adviser to the country's highest authority, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement approaching Iran security on false pretenses will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani said.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, alleged the US and Israel of having a hand in the demonstrations, a frequent accusation by the government in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this national affair will lead to instability across the whole region and the destruction of US assets,” the official wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the security of their soldiers.”

Background of Conflict and Protest Nature

The nation has vowed to strike American soldiers based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked a facility in Qatar following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in the capital but have also extended to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in protest, and youth have taken over campuses. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Government Response Evolves

The head of state, the president, initially invited representatives, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. The president said that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of protesters, though, suggest that authorities are taking a harder line against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

While Iranian authorities deal with protests at home, it has tried to stave off claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Officials has stated that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has indicated it is willing to engage in talks with the international community.