Iranians Feel Betrayed by US Deal with Their Government

By Tavleen Singh

Topic: War

Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 10:00am

People in Iran feel betrayed by the US for signing a deal with their government.

In short:

Many Iranians who oppose their government feel abandoned and betrayed after the US and Iran made a deal to end the war.

When the war started, US President Donald Trump asked Iranians to rise up against their government, but now he says the current leaders are smart.

What's next?

The US and Iran have 60 days to negotiate a final deal, which will include Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

After over 100 days of war, Iranians are disappointed with the deal.

People in Iran say life has become worse since the war began.

A woman named Sahar feels shattered by the events of the past few months.

The entire nation is depressed and distressed.

The US and Israel started a war on Iran, killing many people and causing economic pain.

Donald Trump signed the deal with Iran.

Now, Iranians wonder where they stand.

No one has talked about the suffering people of Iran.

Iranians have come back online after being cut off for over 12 weeks.

The deal has destroyed hope for change among thousands of Iranians who protested against the government.

Before the agreement, people believed the Iranian government would be changed.

The little hope they had is now shattered.

Trump backed down

US President Donald Trump posted a video saying the US would end the Iranian threat, but now he says the current leaders are smart.

The issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities will be dealt with later.

The US president says the issue of regime change has already been dealt with.

Donald Trump held a press conference after signing the deal with Iran.

He said Iran has new leaders who are very smart and less radicalized.

But experts and people oppressed by the regime disagree.

A woman named Yalda believed the war was supposed to lead to regime change.

She endured the war, but now feels betrayed.

Donald Trump gave hope to those who dared to rise up against the government.

He said help was on its way, but now it seems like a lie.

Sahar said they believed the promises, but now they feel abandoned.

A professor of Middle East studies said there were talks of regime change at the start of the war, but now it's not on the table.

Sahar believes the US was dishonest.

They only lied, she said.

A 46-year-old protester named Fahimeh said Mr Trump simply backed down.

The country has fallen into the hands of the IRGC.

He thought this would be another Afghanistan or Venezuela.

But Iran has not collapsed, and the US military has not forced Iran to surrender.

Donald Trump will see it as a victory, but Iran is in a stronger position.

Choking ordinary people

The deal includes clauses that refer to Iran receiving money or sanctions relief.

But Iranians believe the money will not reach ordinary citizens.

Prices of everyday items have been soaring in Iran.

Where does the oil money go? It does not end up on the tables of ordinary people.

The only change the war brought was soaring prices.

Along with high prices, Iranians have been dealing with impacts to essential services.

Many Iranians died in hospitals because medicines could not get through.

Iran agreed to a ceasefire deal, which means they likely had something to gain.

A doctor in Iran shared stories about the difficulties he faced in caring for people.

People in Iran now dream to die peacefully, not under torture or with bullets.

A patient begged the doctor to recommend a medicine to die peacefully.

The doctor blamed his parents for giving him morals and values.

Abandoned and forgotten

There is fear that the regime will turn its attention to the women of Iran once the agreement is made.

The IRGC has started tightening its enforcement of compulsory hijab-wearing.

These events have left deep scars and broken people's spirit.

People in Iran are shattered after the US announced it had signed a deal with the Islamic Republic.

Sahar feels abandoned by the US administration and Mr Trump.

They simply reached an agreement for their own interests.

He accomplished nothing, Fahimeh said.

He came for uranium, he came for money, that's all.

The presidents of the US and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war.

Sahar believes crackdowns on dissent are increasing, including executions and arrests.

Iran executed at least 1,639 people last year.

As negotiations kick off, several points are still under discussion, including Iran's nuclear program.

The US and IRGC have labelled this deal as a victory, but for Iranians, it's a devastating loss.

We, the people of Iran, remain captives, abandoned and forgotten.

No one cares about us.

Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 10:00am

Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 11:56am

Pratique d'écoute