🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump has stated he would step in in the Islamic Republic should its authorities kill demonstrators, resulting in warnings from senior Iranian officials that any American interference would overstep a definitive limit.

A Public Declaration Ignites Diplomatic Strain

Through a online statement on Friday, the former president said that if Iran were to fire upon protesters, the US would “come to their rescue”. He noted, “we are prepared to act,” without detailing what that could entail in practice.

Demonstrations Continue into the New Week Amid Financial Turmoil

Public unrest are now in their sixth day, representing the biggest since 2022. The present demonstrations were catalyzed by an sharp drop in the national currency on Sunday, with its value dropping to about a historic low, worsening an existing financial crisis.

Several citizens have been confirmed dead, among them a volunteer for the state-affiliated group. Videos reportedly show officials armed with shotguns, with the sound of shooting heard in the video.

Tehran's Authorities Issue Stark Warnings

Addressing Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, counselor for the country's highest authority, cautioned that internal matters were a “red line, not fodder for online provocations”.

“Any external involvement approaching Iran security on false pretenses will be met with a swift consequence,” he posted.

Another senior Iranian official, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, accused the US and Israel of being involved in the protests, a frequent accusation by Tehran when addressing protests.

“Washington needs to know that American involvement in this national affair will lead to destabilisation of the whole region and the destruction of American interests,” Larijani wrote. “The public must know that the former president is the one that started this adventure, and they should be concerned for the safety of their soldiers.”

Context of Tensions and Protest Scale

Tehran has vowed to strike foreign forces deployed in the Middle East in the before, and in June it launched strikes on Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar following the US struck its nuclear facilities.

The current protests have taken place in Tehran but have also spread to other cities, such as Isfahan. Shopkeepers have closed their stores in protest, and youth have gathered on campuses. While economic conditions are the primary complaint, demonstrators have also chanted political demands and criticized what they said was corruption and mismanagement.

Government Approach Changes

The head of state, Masoud Pezeshkian, first called for demonstration organizers, adopting a less confrontational approach than authorities did during the 2022 protests, which were put down harshly. Pezeshkian noted that he had ordered the administration to listen to the demonstrators' core grievances.

The loss of life of demonstrators, however, could signal that authorities are becoming more forceful as they address the protests as they continue. A announcement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on recently stated that it would take a harsh line against any external involvement or “sedition” in the country.

As Tehran grapple with protests at home, it has sought to counter claims from the United States that it is rebuilding its nuclear programme. Iran has claimed that it is halted enrichment activities domestically and has expressed it is open for negotiations with the west.