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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in the Islamic Republic if its government use lethal force against protesters, prompting cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Through a online statement on recently, Trump stated that if the country were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the America would “step in to help”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without clarifying what that would involve in actual terms.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Amid Financial Crisis

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, constituting the most significant in recent memory. The current unrest were catalyzed by an unprecedented decline in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value plummeting to about a historic low, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been reported killed, among them a volunteer for the Basij security force. Footage have shown security forces armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting audible in the video.

National Leaders Deliver Stark Rebukes

Reacting to Trump’s threat, an official, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for adventurist tweets”.

“Any foreign interference nearing Iran security on false pretenses will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani said.

Another leader, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the foreign powers of orchestrating the demonstrations, a common refrain by Tehran in response to protests.

“The US should understand that American involvement in this national affair will lead to instability across the Middle East and the damage to Washington's stakes,” he wrote. “US citizens must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should be concerned for the security of their military personnel.”

Background of Tensions and Demonstration Scope

Tehran has threatened to target foreign forces stationed in the region in the past, and in recent months it launched strikes on a facility in Qatar after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have occurred in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and activists have taken over university grounds. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and criticized what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Official Approach Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for demonstration organizers, adopting a less confrontational approach than the government did during the earlier demonstrations, which were violently suppressed. The president noted that he had ordered the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, could, suggest that the state are taking a harder line against the protests as they continue. A statement from the powerful military force on recently cautioned that it would take a harsh line against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

While Iranian authorities face protests at home, it has tried to stave off claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Tehran has stated that it is ceased such work domestically and has indicated it is ready for dialogue with the international community.