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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran if its government harm protesters, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any American interference would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Statement Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, the former president declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that could entail in actual terms.

Unrest Continue into the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Financial Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, representing the largest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on Sunday, with its value dropping to about a record depreciation, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the paramilitary organization. Footage circulate showing security forces carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire present in the background.

Iranian Officials Deliver Stark Rebukes

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that internal matters were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement approaching the country's stability on any excuse will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, claimed the US and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, a frequent accusation by the government in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this national affair will lead to instability across the Middle East and the damage to Washington's stakes,” the official stated. “The public must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the security of their soldiers.”

Background of Conflict and Protest Scale

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers based in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf following the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have taken place in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and activists have gathered on university grounds. While economic conditions are the central grievance, protesters have also voiced calls for change and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Government Response Changes

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, adopting a softer stance than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. He stated that he had directed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of protesters, could, suggest that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the unrest as they continue. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

As Iranian authorities grapple with domestic dissent, it has attempted to refute accusations from the United States that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Officials has said that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has indicated it is open for dialogue with the international community.