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Donald Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its regime kill demonstrators, prompting admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Post Escalates Diplomatic Strain

In a social media post on recently, Trump said that if the country were to fire upon protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that might mean in reality.

Unrest Enter the New Week Amid Financial Strain

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, marking the largest since 2022. The current unrest were triggered by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on recently, with its value plummeting to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a member of the state-affiliated group. Videos have shown security forces carrying firearms, with the noise of discharges heard in the background.

Tehran's Officials Deliver Stark Rebukes

Addressing the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any intervening hand approaching our national security on false pretenses will be met with a regret-inducing response,” he posted.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the US and Israel of being involved in the unrest, a common refrain by Tehran in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that American involvement in this national affair will lead to instability across the entire area and the damage to American interests,” the official stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their troops.”

Recent History of Tensions and Protest Nature

Tehran has previously warned against foreign forces deployed in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The present unrest have been centered in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Merchants have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Stance Shifts

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, taking a softer stance than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. He noted that he had ordered the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, though, could signal that authorities are becoming more forceful against the protests as they continue. A statement from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While the government grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute accusations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Iran has stated that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has expressed it is open for dialogue with the west.