Iran was rocked by violent clashes today as demonstrators defied their Supreme Leader’s warnings of ‘bloodshed’ to take to the streets.

Police in Tehran used teargas, metal batons and water cannons on protesters who continue to challenge the recent presidential elections.

In the south of the city supporters of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi torched a building used by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s backers.

There were also fierce clashes between the rival supporters and a suicide bomb attack at a shrine to the country’s revolutionary founder.

More than 3,000 people are believed to have demonstrated this afternoon despite warnings from the Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The government has clamped down on media reporting from the country but witness accounts have been filtering through.

Earlier today thousands of black-clad riot police were deployed to nearly every public square in the city, outnumbering those on the streets.

They completely blocked off Tehran’s Enghelab ‘Revolution’ Square after Mousavi supporters arranged to meet there.

Those who tried to gather were confronted by officers from all sections of Iran’s security services including the revolutionary guard, military police and religious paramilitaries called the Basij.

Smoke was seen rising from the square as tear gas was deployed on the protesters heard chanting 'death to the dictator' and crowds were dispersed with water canons.

Yesterday Ayatollah Khamenei ordered an end to the demonstrations against the country's disputed presidential elections.

He backed the victory of hardliner Ahmadinejad and told protest leaders that they would be responsible for any bloodshed if the rallies continued.

There were conflicting reports as to whether the protests would go ahead or if they had the backing of the defeated candidates themselves.

While protesters clashed on the streets a suicide bomber blew himself up at the mausoleum of the father of Iran’s revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, according to the state-run media.

Two people were wounded in the attack, which happened in the northern wing of the shrine.

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