چی بودیم، چی شدیم

Etymology
Literally: “What were we and what have we become!”

Phrase

 * 1) whatever happened to us!;

Usage notes

 * In contemporary discourse most often referring to a comparison of contemporary Iran with pre-revolutionary (or even pre-Islamic) times. Hence associated with those critical of the Islamic Revolution. However, supporters of the latter have also tried to reclaim the expression in a positive sense.