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The former president has threatened to intervene in Iran if its government use lethal force against demonstrators, leading to cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would overstep a definitive limit.

An Online Declaration Escalates Tensions

Through a online statement on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the US would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that would involve in reality.

Demonstrations Continue into the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their second week, marking the biggest in several years. The ongoing protests were triggered by an steep fall in the national currency on recently, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a volunteer for the paramilitary organization. Videos have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the noise of discharges present in the video.

Iranian Authorities Deliver Strong Responses

Addressing the intervention warning, an official, counselor for the country's highest authority, stated that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any external involvement nearing the country's stability on pretexts will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he said.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, claimed the foreign powers of being involved in the protests, a typical response by officials in response to protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the harm to Washington's stakes,” he declared. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the security of their military personnel.”

Context of Strain and Demonstration Scope

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have been centered in the capital but have also extended to other cities, such as a major city. Business owners have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have gathered on university grounds. While economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also chanted calls for change and criticized what they said was failures by officials.

Official Approach Shifts

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, adopting a softer stance than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were met with force. He stated that he had directed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The loss of life of demonstrators, could, suggest that officials are taking a harder line against the protests as they continue. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would respond forcefully against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

While the government grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Iran has said that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has indicated it is ready for negotiations with the west.