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Donald Trump has stated he would step in in the Islamic Republic if its government kill protesters, prompting admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would violate a critical boundary.

An Online Declaration Ignites Diplomatic Strain

In a social media post on recently, the former president said that if Iran were to fire upon demonstrators, the America would “come to their rescue”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without explaining what that would involve in reality.

Demonstrations Continue into the New Week Amid Economic Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, marking the most significant in recent memory. The current unrest were catalyzed by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its worth plummeting to about a record depreciation, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been lost their lives, among them a volunteer for the paramilitary organization. Footage reportedly show security forces armed with firearms, with the sound of shooting heard in the video.

Tehran's Officials Deliver Firm Responses

Reacting to Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that Iran’s national security were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement targeting the country's stability on false pretenses will be severed with a swift consequence,” he said.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the foreign powers of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by officials in response to protests.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the Middle East and the damage to American interests,” he wrote. “The public must know that Trump is the one that began this escalation, and they should pay attention to the well-being of their troops.”

Background of Tensions and Protest Scale

Tehran has previously warned against American soldiers stationed in the region in the past, and in recent months it attacked a facility in Qatar following the American attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have occurred in Tehran but have also extended to other cities, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and youth have taken over campuses. While financial hardship are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted calls for change and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Government Approach Shifts

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially invited protest leaders, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. He stated that he had instructed the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The recent deaths of protesters, though, could signal that officials are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they persist. A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “internal strife” in the country.

While Tehran deal with protests at home, it has sought to counter claims from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Officials has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium domestically and has signaled it is open for talks with the international community.