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Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran if its government use lethal force against protesters, resulting in cautionary statements from high-ranking figures in Tehran that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

An Online Post Fuels Diplomatic Strain

Via a social media post on recently, Trump said that if Iran were to use deadly force against protesters, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that could entail in practice.

Protests Continue into the New Week Amid Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, representing the largest in recent memory. The ongoing protests were triggered by an sharp drop in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value plummeting to about a historic low, worsening an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, among them a member of the Basij security force. Recordings circulate showing law enforcement carrying firearms, with the sound of shooting present in the video.

Tehran's Officials Issue Strong Warnings

Reacting to Trump’s threat, a top adviser, adviser to the country's highest authority, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand nearing the country's stability on pretexts will be severed with a forceful retaliation,” Shamkhani said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, claimed the US and Israel of orchestrating the demonstrations, a typical response by officials in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that US intervention in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the whole region and the destruction of American interests,” Larijani declared. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the safety of their military personnel.”

Recent History of Tensions and Demonstration Nature

The nation has vowed to strike foreign forces stationed in the region in the past, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The current protests have been centered in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have closed their stores in protest, and activists have gathered on university grounds. Though economic conditions are the main issue, protesters have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Approach Evolves

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, adopting a more conciliatory tone than the government did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian stated that he had instructed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of protesters, however, suggest that authorities are adopting a tougher stance as they address the protests as they continue. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently stated that it would respond forcefully against any foreign interference or “internal strife” in the country.

While Iranian authorities deal with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off accusations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Officials has claimed that it is ceased such work domestically and has indicated it is open for talks with the international community.