‘Trump wasn’t victorious - it was a major defeat’: protestors inside Iran speak out

Key Points:

• The memorandum of understanding signed between US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has been widely perceived by Iranians as a political betrayal rather than a resolution to the crisis, with the Islamic Republic's core power structure remaining intact.
• Many Iranians criticize the gap between Trump's initial rhetoric advocating regime change and human rights and the eventual outcome where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retains influence, domestic repression continues, and economic hardships persist.
• The terms of the agreement, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions, and establishing a $300 billion reconstruction fund, are seen by critics as concessions that benefit the regime and the IRGC rather than ordinary Iranians.
• Some Iranians argue that Israeli military actions, rather than US operations, were primarily responsible for targeting senior IRGC officials, and view the US decision to halt military pressure as saving the Islamic Republic.
• The deal has led to widespread frustration among Iranians who feel abandoned by Trump after his initial support, highlighting a disconnect between public expectations for foreign intervention and the realities of geopolitical negotiations.