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Donald Trump has warned of involvement in Iran should its authorities harm demonstrators, leading to cautionary statements from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Declaration Escalates Diplomatic Strain

Through a social media post on Friday, the former president said that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “intervene on their behalf”. He noted, “our response is imminent,” without clarifying what that would involve in actual terms.

Unrest Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Crisis

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, marking the largest in several years. The current unrest were catalyzed by an sharp drop in the country's money on recently, with its value dropping to about a record depreciation, further exacerbating an already beleaguered economy.

Multiple individuals have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage reportedly show officials carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the video.

Iranian Authorities Issue Firm Rebukes

Reacting to the intervention warning, a top adviser, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not fodder for reckless social media posts”.

“Any intervening hand approaching the country's stability on any excuse will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani wrote.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the unrest, a typical response by officials when addressing protests.

“The US should understand that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to instability across the entire area and the damage to US assets,” Larijani declared. “US citizens must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their soldiers.”

Context of Conflict and Demonstration Scale

Iran has vowed to strike American soldiers based in the Middle East in the before, and in June it attacked Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have taken place in Tehran but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in protest, and students have gathered on campuses. Though financial hardship are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced calls for change and decried what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Government Response Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with representatives, taking a softer stance than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. The president stated that he had directed the government to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The fatalities of protesters, however, may indicate that the state are adopting a tougher stance against the unrest as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently warned that it would act decisively against any foreign interference or “unrest” in the country.

As the government grapple with protests at home, it has attempted to refute claims from the United States that it is reviving its nuclear programme. Officials has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the west.