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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran should its regime kill demonstrators, leading to cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

A Public Statement Ignites Diplomatic Strain

Via a online statement on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the US would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without detailing what that might mean in actual terms.

Demonstrations Continue into the New Week Amid Economic Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their sixth day, constituting the largest in several years. The present demonstrations were sparked by an steep fall in the country's money on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a historic low, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Recordings circulate showing law enforcement armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the recordings.

Tehran's Leaders Deliver Stark Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference targeting our national security on any excuse will be cut off with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani wrote.

A separate high-ranking figure, a key security official, accused the outside actors of orchestrating the demonstrations, a typical response by Tehran in response to protests.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the harm to US assets,” he wrote. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the safety of their troops.”

Recent History of Tensions and Demonstration Scope

Tehran has previously warned against foreign forces stationed in the Middle East in the before, and in recent months it attacked a facility in the Gulf following the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The present unrest have taken place in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have gone on strike in solidarity, and activists have gathered on campuses. While financial hardship are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Stance Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian said that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of protesters, however, suggest that officials are becoming more forceful as they address the protests as they continue. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would respond forcefully against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While the government face domestic dissent, it has sought to counter claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Iran has said that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has indicated it is ready for talks with the west.