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The former president has threatened to intervene in Iran if its government kill demonstrators, resulting in admonishments from senior Iranian officials that any US intervention would violate a critical boundary.

A Public Declaration Fuels Tensions

In a public declaration on recently, the former president stated that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the United States would “come to their rescue”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without explaining what that would involve in actual terms.

Demonstrations Continue into the Sixth Day Amid Economic Crisis

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, marking the largest since 2022. The present demonstrations were sparked by an steep fall in the country's money on recently, with its worth dropping to about a record depreciation, worsening an precarious economic situation.

Seven people have been lost their lives, among them a member of the Basij security force. Footage reportedly show officials armed with shotguns, with the sound of shooting heard in the recordings.

Iranian Leaders Issue Stark Warnings

Addressing the statement, a top adviser, adviser to the supreme leader, stated that internal matters were a “non-negotiable limit, not a subject for reckless social media posts”.

“Any external involvement targeting the country's stability on any excuse will be met with a swift consequence,” Shamkhani said.

Another leader, Ali Larijani, accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, a common refrain by the government when addressing domestic dissent.

“Trump must realize that American involvement in this internal issue will lead to destabilisation of the entire area and the destruction of Washington's stakes,” Larijani wrote. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the security of their troops.”

Recent History of Conflict and Demonstration Scale

Tehran has threatened to target American soldiers stationed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the American attacks on related infrastructure.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also reached other cities, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in solidarity, and activists have taken over university grounds. Though economic conditions are the main issue, demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was graft and poor governance.

Presidential Approach Changes

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered talks with protest leaders, taking a softer stance than the government did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian stated that he had instructed the government to listen to the people's valid concerns.

The fatalities of protesters, though, may indicate that authorities are taking a harder line as they address the unrest as they continue. A announcement from the powerful military force on Monday cautioned that it would act decisively against any external involvement or “unrest” in the country.

As Tehran grapple with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Officials has said that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has signaled it is ready for dialogue with the west.