🔗 Share this article Tehran's Leaders Warn Donald Trump Not to Overstep a Critical 'Limit' Over Protest Interference Threats Ex-President Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran should its authorities harm demonstrators, leading to admonishments from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would overstep a definitive limit. A Social Media Declaration Fuels Diplomatic Strain Via a public declaration on Friday, the former president stated that if Iran were to use deadly force against protesters, the America would “intervene on their behalf”. He added, “we are locked and loaded, and ready to go,” without clarifying what that would involve in actual terms. Unrest Continue into the Next Phase Amid Economic Strain Demonstrations across the nation are now in their second week, representing the biggest in several years. The present demonstrations were triggered by an steep fall in the Iranian rial on recently, with its value dropping to about a record depreciation, worsening an precarious economic situation. Several citizens have been reported killed, including a member of the Basij security force. Recordings reportedly show security forces carrying shotguns, with the sound of shooting present in the recordings. Iranian Officials Issue Stark Rebukes In response to the statement, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that internal matters were a “red line, not fodder for adventurist tweets”. “Any external involvement nearing Iran security on false pretenses will be severed with a regret-inducing response,” he posted. Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, alleged the outside actors of orchestrating the unrest, a common refrain by Tehran in response to domestic dissent. “The US should understand that foreign interference in this domestic matter will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the damage to Washington's stakes,” Larijani wrote. “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 military personnel.” Recent History of Strain and Demonstration Scope Tehran has threatened to target American soldiers deployed in the region in the before, and in recent months it launched strikes on a facility in the Gulf after the American attacks on its nuclear facilities. The current protests have occurred in the capital but have also reached other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have gone on strike in solidarity, and students have gathered on campuses. Though economic conditions are the primary complaint, protesters have also chanted anti-government slogans and condemned what they said was corruption and mismanagement. Presidential Stance Changes The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for protest leaders, adopting a more conciliatory tone than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. He said that he had directed the administration to listen to the people's valid concerns. The fatalities of demonstrators, could, could signal that authorities are adopting a tougher stance against the protests as they persist. A communiqué from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on Monday warned that it would take a harsh line against any outside meddling or “unrest” in the country. As Tehran face protests at home, it has attempted to refute allegations from the US that it is rebuilding its nuclear activities. Iran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities anywhere in the country and has signaled it is open for talks with the international community.