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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran if its government harm demonstrators, prompting admonishments from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Statement Escalates Tensions

Through a social media post on Friday, Trump said that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without explaining what that might mean in reality.

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

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day, constituting the largest since 2022. The ongoing protests were sparked by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the Basij security force. Footage have shown security forces carrying shotguns, with the sound of shooting present in the background.

Iranian Officials Issue Stark Rebukes

Reacting to the statement, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, stated that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference targeting the country's stability on false pretenses will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani said.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of being involved in the protests, a typical response by officials when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the destruction of American interests,” the official stated. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the safety of their soldiers.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Scale

The nation has threatened to target foreign forces stationed in the region in the before, and in recent months it attacked a facility in Qatar following the US struck related infrastructure.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also chanted political demands and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Official Stance Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were met with force. Pezeshkian said that he had ordered the government to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The fatalities of protesters, though, could signal that officials are adopting a tougher stance against the unrest as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country.

As the government face internal challenges, it has tried to stave off claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Tehran has stated that it is no longer enriching uranium at present and has signaled it is willing to engage in talks with the international community.