As protests erupt once more across Iran, voices from inside the country describe a nation not only burdened by economic hardship but also pushed past a psychological point of no return.

Interviews with three protesters based in Tehran and other cities suggest that what began as anger over inflation and the rising cost of living has evolved into an outright rejection of the Islamic Republic’s authority.

While such remarks are uncommon, they reflect the extent of public anger, which now extends beyond borders, in seeking solutions to domestic repression.

A second protester, who asked not to reveal his location, rejected the regime’s claim that the unrest is rooted only in economic grievances.

While acknowledging that poverty has worsened significantly, he insisted that the deeper problem is systemic. “This is no longer about specific issues,” he said. “It’s against the principle of the regime.”

He argued that years of empty promises from reformist politicians have convinced many Iranians that elections and gradual change are meaningless under what he described as an “absolute dictatorship.”

He accused the ruling establishment of prioritizing its vision of an Islamic “ummah” over Iran’s national identity. “They hate Iranian identity and nationality,” he said. “They forgot the people of Iran.”

This protester reserved particular criticism for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the protests as a direct challenge to his authority. In his view, the public no longer sees Iran’s leaders as misguided compatriots but as occupiers, alien to the country itself.

Across the interviews, all three protesters emphasized a common thread: the economic situation has become unlivable.

One recalled that just a few years ago, visiting a café cost around 10,000 toman. Today, he said, the same outing costs between 500,000 and 700,000 toman. Meat, once considered a basic staple, now sells for nearly one million toman per kilogram.

With the minimum monthly wage standing at roughly 12 to 15 million toman, he said, families cannot afford rent or food, let alone healthcare or education. “Refrigerators are empty. Pockets are empty,” he said. “Every day, people see themselves becoming poorer.”

The rate of decline has been nearly as shocking as its severity. Inflation has reached nearly 50% in less than a decade, with the sharpest spikes occurring over the past five or six years.

The value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar has more than halved in just the past year, sparking demonstrations that have quickly morphed into anti-government protests.

“What started as economic became anti-government,” said a third protester based in Tehran. “The government is armed to the teeth,” he added. “The people are empty-handed.”

Yet despite this imbalance, he said public trust in the system has disappeared. What remains, he claimed, is a grim countdown toward the regime’s eventual collapse.

One protester also pointed to a growing divide between the regime’s rhetoric on Israel and public sentiment. He argued that after years of state-sponsored incitement, many Iranians are beginning to see Israel in a different light.

“For years, they told us Israel is evil,” he said. “Now people see Khamenei as the cause of their misery, and that has pushed them to look differently at Israel.”

He ended with a hope shared by many demonstrators: that the Islamic Republic will fall and that Iran will one day reclaim its lost dignity and stability.

Whether these latest waves of protests will succeed where past uprisings have failed remains to be seen. But the testimonies suggest that Iran’s unrest is no longer driven by price hikes or government missteps alone.

It reflects a deeper rupture between state and society – one fueled by economic collapse, political repression, and a collective sense that the future has been taken away.