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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its authorities kill protesters, leading to cautionary statements from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

In a public declaration on recently, Trump declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that might mean in actual terms.

Protests Continue into the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Financial Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the largest since 2022. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the country's money on Sunday, with its value falling to about a record depreciation, intensifying an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a member of the paramilitary organization. Videos reportedly show security forces armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire present in the video.

National Officials Issue Strong Responses

Addressing the intervention warning, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that internal matters were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement approaching our national security on pretexts will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” he posted.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the US and Israel of orchestrating the protests, a common refrain by the government when addressing protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the harm to US assets,” he declared. “The American people must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their military personnel.”

Background of Strain and Demonstration Nature

Tehran has threatened to target US troops deployed in the Middle East in the past, and in June it attacked a facility in Qatar after the US struck Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also extended to other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have gone on strike in protest, and students have gathered on university grounds. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted calls for change and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Presidential Response Evolves

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited representatives, adopting a less confrontational approach than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. He noted that he had directed the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of demonstrators, however, could signal that officials are taking a harder line against the protests as they persist. A announcement 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 Iranian authorities deal with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute allegations from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Tehran has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium at present and has expressed it is willing to engage in negotiations with the international community.