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The former president has threatened to intervene in Iran should its government use lethal force against demonstrators, prompting admonishments from Iran's leadership that any US intervention would overstep a definitive limit.

A Social Media Statement Fuels Tensions

Via a social media post on Friday, the former president said that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the America would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “our response is imminent,” without detailing what that would involve in practice.

Demonstrations Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Strain

Demonstrations across the nation are now in their latest phase, representing the most significant in several years. The current unrest were sparked by an sharp drop in the Iranian rial on Sunday, with its value falling to about a historic low, further exacerbating an precarious economic situation.

Several citizens have been reported killed, including a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Footage have shown officials armed with shotguns, with the noise of discharges audible in the recordings.

Tehran's Officials Issue Strong Warnings

In response to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the country's highest authority, stated that the nation's sovereignty were a “non-negotiable limit, not material for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement nearing our national security on pretexts will be severed with a swift consequence,” he posted.

A separate high-ranking figure, Ali Larijani, accused the foreign powers of orchestrating the protests, a frequent accusation by the government in response to domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that US intervention in this national affair will lead to turmoil in the entire area and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” the official declared. “The public must know that Trump is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should be concerned for the well-being of their military personnel.”

Recent History of Strain and Protest Nature

Tehran has vowed to strike American soldiers stationed in the region in the before, and in recent months it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in the capital but have also spread to other urban centers, such as Isfahan. Business owners have shuttered businesses in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. While economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also voiced anti-government slogans and decried what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Approach Changes

The head of state, the president, initially invited representatives, taking a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the earlier demonstrations, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian stated that he had ordered the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The loss of life of demonstrators, could, suggest that the state are adopting a tougher stance against the unrest as they persist. A communiqué from the state security apparatus on Monday stated that it would respond forcefully against any foreign interference or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran deal with domestic dissent, it has sought to counter allegations from the United States that it is reconstituting its nuclear activities. Officials has stated that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has signaled it is ready for talks with the west.