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The former president has warned of involvement in the Islamic Republic if its regime harm demonstrators, leading to warnings from Iran's leadership that any involvement from Washington would violate a critical boundary.

A Social Media Declaration Fuels Tensions

Via a public declaration on Friday, the former president said that if Iran were to use deadly force against demonstrators, the United States would “step in to help”. He further stated, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that would involve in practice.

Demonstrations Enter the Sixth Day Amid Economic Turmoil

Protests in Iran are now in their second week, representing the biggest in several years. The current unrest were triggered by an unprecedented decline in the national currency on Sunday, with its value plummeting to about a historic low, intensifying an already beleaguered economy.

Seven people have been reported killed, including a member of the Basij security force. Recordings have shown law enforcement carrying shotguns, with the audio of gunfire present in the recordings.

National Leaders Deliver Strong Warnings

In response to the intervention warning, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the supreme leader, warned that the nation's sovereignty were a “definitive boundary, not material for online provocations”.

“Any foreign interference approaching Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Shamkhani wrote.

Another leader, a key security official, accused the foreign powers of being involved in the unrest, a frequent accusation by officials in response to domestic dissent.

“Washington needs to know that foreign interference in this internal issue will lead to turmoil in the Middle East and the damage to American interests,” the official declared. “The American people must know that the former president is the one that initiated this provocation, and they should consider the well-being of their soldiers.”

Context of Strain and Protest Scope

The nation has vowed to strike foreign forces stationed in the region in the before, and in June it attacked a facility in Qatar following the American attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

The ongoing demonstrations have been centered in the capital but have also reached other urban centers, such as a major city. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in protest, and students have taken over university grounds. While financial hardship are the primary complaint, protesters have also voiced anti-government slogans and decried what they said was failures by officials.

Presidential Approach Shifts

The head of state, the president, offered talks with demonstration organizers, adopting a softer stance than the government did during the previous unrest, which were violently suppressed. He stated that he had instructed the administration to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands”.

The recent deaths of demonstrators, though, suggest that the state are adopting a tougher stance as they address the unrest as they continue. A statement from the state security apparatus on recently stated that it would act decisively against any outside meddling or “sedition” in the country.

While Tehran grapple with domestic dissent, it has tried to stave off allegations from the US that it is reconstituting its nuclear programme. Tehran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities at present and has indicated it is willing to engage in talks with the west.