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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic if its government kill demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Declaration Fuels Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, the former president declared that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in practice.

Unrest Continue into the Sixth Day Against a Backdrop of Economic Strain

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, constituting the most significant in recent memory. The current unrest were sparked by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Recordings circulate showing officials carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire audible in the recordings.

National Authorities Issue Firm Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that Iran’s national security were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand approaching the country's stability on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” the official wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, claimed the US and Israel of having a hand in the protests, a frequent accusation by Tehran in response to protests.

“Trump must realize that foreign interference in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” Larijani stated. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should consider the safety of their soldiers.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

Tehran has previously warned against US troops based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in the capital but have also reached other urban centers, such as a major city. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have gathered on university grounds. While the currency crisis are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and criticized what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Stance Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, taking a softer stance than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were met with force. Pezeshkian stated that he had ordered the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of protesters, however, may indicate that the state are taking a harder line against the protests as they continue. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently warned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

As the government face protests at home, it has attempted to refute claims from the US that it is reviving its nuclear activities. Officials has stated that it is ceased such work domestically and has expressed it is willing to engage in negotiations with the international community.