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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in Iran if its government harm protesters, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would cross a “red line”.

An Online Post Fuels Tensions

Via a social media post on Friday, Trump stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that would involve in reality.

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

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, representing the largest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, including a member of the paramilitary organization. Footage circulate showing security forces carrying shotguns, with the noise of discharges audible in the background.

Iranian Officials Deliver Firm Warnings

Reacting to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the supreme leader, cautioned that the nation's sovereignty were a “red line, not material for online provocations”.

“Any intervening hand targeting Iran security on any excuse will be met with a regret-inducing response,” he posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the protests, a frequent accusation by Tehran in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the damage to US assets,” Larijani wrote. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the safety of their soldiers.”

Context of Conflict and Demonstration Nature

Tehran has vowed to strike American soldiers deployed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in the capital but have also extended to other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and students have taken over university grounds. Though financial hardship are the central grievance, protesters have also voiced anti-government slogans and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Official Stance Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited protest leaders, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. He stated that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, though, may indicate that the state are taking a harder line against the protests as they persist. A announcement from the powerful military force on recently stated that it would take a harsh line against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

As Iranian authorities deal with protests at home, it has sought to counter accusations from the United States that it is reviving its atomic ambitions. Officials has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has signaled it is ready for talks with the international community.