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Ex-President Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its regime harm demonstrators, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Post Ignites Diplomatic Strain

In a social media post on recently, the former president declared that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that could entail in actual terms.

Demonstrations Enter the Sixth Day Amid Financial Turmoil

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, marking the largest in several years. The current unrest were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth falling to about 1.4m to the US dollar, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been confirmed dead, including a member of the Basij security force. Footage have shown law enforcement armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting present in the background.

Iranian Authorities Deliver Strong Warnings

In response to the intervention warning, an official, counselor for the supreme leader, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on false pretenses will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” the official wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of having a hand in the protests, a common refrain by Tehran in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that US intervention in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the damage to Washington's stakes,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that began this escalation, and they should consider the safety of their troops.”

Recent History of Conflict and Demonstration Nature

Iran has previously warned against foreign forces based in the region in the before, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in Tehran but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have taken over campuses. While economic conditions are the main issue, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Response Changes

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, taking a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. The president stated that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of protesters, however, suggest that the state are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday stated that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “internal strife” in the country.

While Iranian authorities grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute accusations from the US that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Iran has claimed that it is ceased such work domestically and has indicated it is ready for negotiations with the west.