Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Syria, Kurds, Turkish advance
- Iran Unrest, War Postponed
- TRIPP and sovereignty dispute
- 2026 Elections and Foreign Influence
Episode 508 | Recorded: January 19, 2026
#ArmenianNews #Syria #Iran #ZangezurCorridor #TRIPP #Geopolitics
Show Notes
Summary
This episode examines major geopolitical shifts affecting Armenia and the wider region, focusing on Syria’s rapidly changing battlefield, the postponed but unresolved Iran war scenario, the growing controversy around the TRIPP corridor, and intensifying foreign involvement ahead of Armenia’s 2026 elections.
Main Topics Addressed
Syria
- Rapid Turkish-backed advances following the apparent U.S. abandonment of Kurdish allies
- Pressure on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm, integrate into the Syrian army, and extradite PKK members
- A serious rollback of Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria
- Strategic implications for Armenia, viewed through historical parallels
Iran Crisis
- Externally instigated protests escalating into deadly riots across Iran
- The U.S.–Israel–Iran war narrative postponed rather than cooled
- Russia reportedly serving as a backchannel to prevent immediate escalation
- War hawks framing the debate as limited versus large-scale strikes
- Iran’s post-2025 military rebuilding with Russian and Chinese assistance
TRIPP Trap
- Protests outside the Iranian embassy in Yerevan and Tehran’s warning signals
- Pashinyan dismissing Iranian concerns over anti-Iranian activity in Armenia
- New TRIPP agreements signed in Washington emphasizing sovereignty language
- Armenia locked into a long-term minority ownership position
- Regional consequences of sidelining Iran and Russia
Elections 2026 – Foreign Influence
Turkish Support
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s public endorsement of Pashinyan
- Questions of election interference and geopolitical double standards
- Turkey’s potential leverage over Armenia’s political process
Russian Support
- Armenia’s sharp decline in trade with Russia and increased borrowing
- Western and Turkish efforts to marginalize Russia in the South Caucasus
- Russia’s continued strategic interests despite the Ukraine war
Key Questions Discussed
- Why did the U.S. abandon its Kurdish allies in Syria?
- What lessons should Armenia draw from the Kurdish experience?
- Why was war on Iran postponed, and for how long?
- Is Iran militarily prepared for renewed conflict?
- How committed are Russia and China to preventing regime change in Iran?
- Does TRIPP represent a structural loss of Armenian sovereignty?
- Are Iran’s warnings driven by protests or corridor geopolitics?
- What is at stake in Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary elections?
- How do Russia and Turkey view Pashinyan’s role going forward?
Referenced Articles & Sources
- Syria live: Government forces take control after heavy fighting with SDF
- Iranian ambassador warns Armenia over protests
- Pashinyan rejects Iranian concerns
- Mirzoyan and Rubio sign TRIPP-related agreements in Washington
- Hakan Fidan comments on Armenia’s elections and Pashinyan
- Armenia–Russia trade decline and borrowing figures
Wrap-up
Links and Resources
That’s our Week in Review, we hope you found it helpful. We invite your feedback and your suggestions, you can find us on most social media and podcast platforms.
Thanks to Laura Osborn for the music on our podcasts.
Guests
Sergei Melkonian
Dr. Sergei Melkonian is currently a Research Fellow at APRI Armenia, a Yerevan-based think tank. He served as assistant to President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, on foreign policy (Middle East and post-Soviet space). Sergei is also a guest lecturer at Yerevan State University and the Russian-Armenian University.
Hosts
Asbed Bedrossian
Asbed Bedrossian is an IT professional, and for years oversaw the central IT enterprise infrastructure and services at USC. His decades of experience spanned across IT strategy, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data center operations, high performance computing, ITSM, ITPM, and more.
Asbed founded the Armenian News Network Groong circa 1989/1990, and co-founded the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020.
Hovik Manucharyan
Hovik Manucharyan is an information security engineer who moved from Seattle to Armenia in 2022. He co-founded the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020 and has been a contributor to Groong News since the late 1990s.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by Hovik Manucharyan on the ANN/Groong podcast are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of his employer or any other organization.