How would you summarize how the author of this quote felt?

Question

How would you summarize how the author of this quote felt?

“We thought that Mr. Khatami’s victory was a victory for us as well. The election of a more democratic government seemed to be a bright new beginning . . . But within less than a year of the election, the journalists, reformists, and intellectuals began to be persecuted by hard-liners in the judiciary and Intelligence Ministry . . .”
—Camella Entekhabifard, “Tehran’s Eternal Youth,” New York Times

Answer 1

The author initially felt hopeful and optimistic about the election of President Khatami as a step towards a more democratic government in Iran, but soon became disillusioned and disheartened as the persecution of journalists, reformists, and intellectuals began under hard-liners in the government.