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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its authorities use lethal force against demonstrators, prompting admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Through a social media post on Friday, Trump said that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the US would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without explaining what that could entail in actual terms.

Protests Continue into the New Week Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, constituting the largest in several years. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an sharp drop in the country's money on recently, with its value plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an existing financial crisis.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown security forces armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges audible in the video.

Iranian Authorities Issue Stark Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, stated that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand nearing our national security on pretexts will be severed with a forceful retaliation,” the official posted.

Another leader, a key security official, alleged the outside actors of being involved in the demonstrations, a typical response by Tehran in response to domestic dissent.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the harm to US assets,” Larijani stated. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the security of their troops.”

Recent History of Tensions and Protest Scale

Tehran has vowed to strike US troops deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have taken place in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Merchants have shuttered businesses in protest, and youth have taken over campuses. While economic conditions are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Approach Changes

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, adopting a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. He stated that he had ordered the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The fatalities of demonstrators, though, suggest that officials are becoming more forceful as they address the unrest as they persist. A communiqué from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While Tehran face protests at home, it has attempted to refute allegations from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Iran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has indicated it is ready for negotiations with the international community.