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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its authorities kill protesters, leading to cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Through a online statement on Friday, Trump said that if Iran were to use deadly force against protesters, the America would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in practice.

Demonstrations Enter the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their latest phase, representing the biggest in several years. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an steep fall in the country's money on Sunday, with its value falling to about 1.4m to the US dollar, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a member of the Basij security force. Videos reportedly show law enforcement carrying shotguns, with the sound of shooting present in the background.

Tehran's Officials Deliver Strong Rebukes

Reacting to the statement, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement nearing the country's stability on any excuse will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” he said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the foreign powers of orchestrating the demonstrations, a frequent accusation by the government when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that US intervention in this internal issue will lead to instability across the whole region and the destruction of US assets,” Larijani stated. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Scope

The nation has previously warned against US troops stationed in the region in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The ongoing demonstrations have occurred in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and activists have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the central grievance, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Stance Shifts

The nation's leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, taking a softer stance than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. The president said that he had ordered the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of demonstrators, however, suggest that authorities are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they continue. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday stated that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

While Tehran face protests at home, it has tried to stave off accusations from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Tehran has said that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has signaled it is willing to engage in negotiations with the west.