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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic should its regime use lethal force against protesters, leading to admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would cross a “red line”.

A Social Media Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Through a social media post on Friday, Trump said that if the country were to shoot and kill demonstrators, the US would “step in to help”. He noted, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that might mean in actual terms.

Demonstrations Continue into the New Week Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their latest phase, marking the largest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on Sunday, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, including a volunteer for the Basij security force. Videos have shown officials armed with firearms, with the audio of gunfire heard in the background.

Iranian Leaders Issue Strong Responses

In response to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, counselor for the country's highest authority, stated that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any foreign interference targeting the country's stability on any excuse will be met with a forceful retaliation,” he said.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, claimed the foreign powers of orchestrating the protests, a common refrain by the government when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the destruction of American interests,” the official wrote. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their troops.”

Context of Conflict and Demonstration Scale

Iran has threatened to target US troops based in the Middle East in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the US struck related infrastructure.

The ongoing demonstrations have occurred in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and activists have gathered on campuses. While the currency crisis are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Official Response Shifts

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited demonstration organizers, taking a softer stance than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were violently suppressed. Pezeshkian noted that he had directed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, could, could signal that authorities are becoming more forceful against the unrest as they persist. A communiqué from the powerful military force on recently warned that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “internal strife” in the country.

While the government grapple with internal challenges, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Iran has claimed that it is ceased such work at present and has indicated it is willing to engage in dialogue with the international community.