Amir Zaheri, a PhD student at the University of Otago, said he was "full of rage".
"I have no idea what has happened to my family and my friends, due to the communication blackout."
He was among about 25 protesters who gathered in the Octagon from noon to 1pm yesterday to express solidarity with civilians in Iran and raise awareness about the ongoing loss of life amid a near-total communications blackout.
They waved flags of New Zealand, Israel, the United States and the historic Iranian Lion and Sun flag, as signs called for New Zealanders to stand "on the right side of history".
Chanting included "down with Islamic Republic in Iran", "stop genocide in Iran" and "regime change for Iran".
They were met with shouting from one member of the public who called them "hypocrites" and questioned why they were flying the Israeli flag "when Israel is bombing Iran".
Mr Zaheri said, because they had shared photos and videos protesting on social media, he would be killed if he went back to Iran.
"They know that we’re doing these things against the regime.
"If Islamic regime is still there, and I go to Iran, they’re going to kill me.
"If they’ve got the news, they’re going to kill my family."
He had been living in New Zealand for nine months and, while his visa was only temporary, he was "not afraid any more".
He described unarmed people, from children to seniors, being shot with machineguns in the street and footage of "piles of bodies", filmed using equipment smuggled into the country.
"We can’t stop crying.
"We just scroll social media, see those body bags, trying to see if we know anyone in those massacred bodies."
He wanted immediate military action from the US, Israel "and anyone [that] can help us", Mr Zaheri said.
Amnesty International said Iranian authorities had "unleashed an unprecedented deadly crackdown" since late December to crush the mostly peaceful protests that were demanding the fall of the Islamic Republic system.
"Security forces have used unlawful lethal force leading to mass killings and horrific injuries," Amnesty said.
"Since 8 January, authorities have cut all internet access to conceal their crimes."
United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) yesterday said the total number of verified deaths had reached 3308, with another 4382 cases still under review.
So far, 2107 people with severe injuries had been identified and the arrest of at least 24,266 individuals had been confirmed, it said.
