Iran's President has taken to social media to warn any aggression against the country's supreme leader would be tantamount to "all-out war".

Masoud Pezeshkian's comment comes as an Iranian official claims at least five thousand people were killed in recent nationwide protests - including 500 security personnel.

Initial economic grievances quickly turned political.

Halo Ahmadi O'Sullivan, who is from Iran and working in Athlone, has been speaking with Will Faulkner and says people there don't even basic human rights.