Australia-based Iranian says Tehran's reach leaves him feeling watched as activists allege surveillance

Saeid Zand, an Iranian-born man living in Australia, said he could hear the panic in his sister's voice even though she tried to conceal it. Speaking over a WhatsApp call, she delivered disturbing news from more than 12,000km away in Iran, according to Guardian Australia.

Activists say Tehran's reach extends into Australia, where critics of the Iranian government are being intimidated and surveilled, Guardian Australia reported. They are pressing the federal government to shut down the Iranian embassy.