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Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in Iran should its government kill demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would cross a “red line”.

An Online Declaration Fuels Tensions

In a social media post on Friday, Trump declared that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He added, “our response is imminent,” without clarifying what that could entail in practice.

Protests Continue into the Next Phase Against a Backdrop of Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their second week, marking the most significant in several years. The ongoing protests were sparked by an steep fall in the national currency on recently, with its value plummeting to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further exacerbating an existing financial crisis.

Multiple individuals have been confirmed dead, including a member of the state-affiliated group. Recordings circulate showing officials armed with shotguns, with the audio of gunfire heard in the recordings.

Tehran's Authorities Deliver Stark Rebukes

Reacting to Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not a subject for online provocations”.

“Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on any excuse will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani posted.

Another senior Iranian official, a key security official, claimed the outside actors of orchestrating the unrest, a common refrain by officials when addressing protests.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the damage to American interests,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their troops.”

Context of Tensions and Demonstration Scale

Iran has vowed to strike American soldiers based in the region in the before, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in the Gulf following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have occurred in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have shuttered businesses in protest, and youth have taken over university grounds. Though financial hardship are the central grievance, demonstrators have also voiced political demands and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Stance Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for demonstration organizers, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the previous unrest, which were put down harshly. The president noted that he had ordered the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, could, may indicate that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they continue. A announcement from the state security apparatus on Monday cautioned that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

As Tehran face domestic dissent, it has attempted to refute accusations from the US that it is rebuilding its atomic ambitions. Tehran has said that it is ceased such work anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for negotiations with the international community.