Iran

Summary In this episode, Christine Arakelian and Col. Douglas MacGregor join the hosts to analyze U.S. foreign policy moves from Gaza to the South Caucasus. They discuss Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the likely resumption of hostilities. The conversation examines the Trump–Pashinyan–Aliyev White House summit, the strategic “Trump Corridor” across Armenia, and its impact on Russia, Iran, and India. The guests explore India–Armenia relations, U.S. economic vulnerabilities, and the challenges of sustaining a long-term American role in the Read More

Stanislav Krapivnik - The Evolving World Order, Russia, and the South Caucasus | Ep 458, Aug 9, 2025 [EP458]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Russia, Iran, NATO, Turkey, Economy, Israel | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Stanislav Krapivnik

Topics:

Trump, Pashinyan, Aliyev DC Summit
Ukraine War and the Shifting World Order
Russia and the South Caucasus

Episode 458 | Recorded: August 9, 2025

Stanislav Krapivnik - The Evolving World Order, Russia, and the South Caucasus | Ep 458, Aug 9, 2025 [EP458]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Russia, Iran, NATO, Turkey, Economy, Israel

Groong Links:

Guest:

Stanislav Krapivnik

Topics:

Trump, Pashinyan, Aliyev DC Summit
Ukraine War and the Shifting World Order
Russia and the South Caucasus

Episode 458 | Recorded: August 9, 2025

Transcript: Stanislav Krapivnik - The Evolving World Order, Russia, and the South Caucasus | Ep 458, Aug 9, 2025 [EP458]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Russia, Iran, NATO, Turkey, Economy, Israel, Transcript

In this episode, former U.S. Army officer and military-political analyst Stanislav Krapivnik discusses the geopolitical fallout from the Trump-Pashinyan-Aliyev summit in Washington, which saw the announcement of a “peace” framework, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, U.S. plans for a 99-year “Trump Corridor” across Armenia, and the dropping of Section 907 to allow arms sales to Azerbaijan. He examines Russia’s heavy focus on the Ukraine war at the expense of the South Caucasus, the loss of Russian leverage over Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the growing role of Turkey. Krapivnik warns of Read More

Benyamin Poghosyan - Trump Ultimatum to Putin, Corridor Pressures, DC Summit, Kitchen Sink | Ep 457, Aug 3, 2025 [EP457]

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, India, China, Armenian Genocide, NATO | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Trump Ultimatum to Putin
US Sanctions effect on Armenia
Turkey, US, and Armeniaâs Territory
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 457 | Recorded: August 3, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Trump Ultimatum to Putin, Corridor Pressures, DC Summit, Kitchen Sink | Ep 457, Aug 3, 2025 [EP457]

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, India, China, Armenian Genocide, NATO

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Trump Ultimatum to Putin
US Sanctions effect on Armenia
Turkey, US, and Armeniaâs Territory
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 457 | Recorded: August 3, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Public Trust in Freefall, Church on the Rise, and Corridor Pressures Mount | Ep 456, Jul 27, 2025 [EP456]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East, Israel, China, India, Geopolitics, Artsakh, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Economy, Syria | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Corridor Logic
Crackdown Logic
IRI Poll
Russian-Azerbaijani Relations

Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Public Trust in Freefall, Church on the Rise, and Corridor Pressures Mount | Ep 456, Jul 27, 2025 [EP456]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Corridor Logic
Crackdown Logic
IRI Poll
Russian-Azerbaijani Relations

Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025

Archil Sikharulidze - Why does Georgia matter for the EU | Ep 454, Jul 24, 2025 [EP454]

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2025 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, USA, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Iran, China, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO, Economy, Human Rights, India, Israel | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

EU Strategy in the South Caucasus
Attacks on the National Church
2025 Local Election Politics

Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025

Archil Sikharulidze - Why does Georgia matter for the EU | Ep 454, Jul 24, 2025 [EP454]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

EU Strategy in the South Caucasus
Attacks on the National Church
2025 Local Election Politics

Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025

Pashinyan Meets Aliyev as Armenia Cracks Down on Opposition and Church | Ep 453, Jul 13, 2025 [EP453]

Posted on Sunday, Jul 13, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church, Iran, Economy, Israel, NATO, Middle East, Ukraine | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan meets Aliyev in Abu Dhabi
Continued Persecution of Church and Opposition

Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025

Pashinyan Meets Aliyev as Armenia Cracks Down on Opposition and Church | Ep 453, Jul 13, 2025 [EP453]

Posted on Sunday, Jul 13, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church, Iran, Economy, Israel, NATO, Middle East, Ukraine

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan meets Aliyev in Abu Dhabi
Continued Persecution of Church and Opposition

Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025

Arthur Martirosyan - Constitution, Western Controlled Syunik, Church Crackdown | Ep 452, Jul 6, 2025 [EP452]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 8, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Armenian Church, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, NATO, China, Economy, Genocide | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Constitution Day
Western Controlled Syunik?
What was Kallas Doing in Yerevan?
Russian-Azerbaijani Relations
Coup dâEtat? Or Coup dâÃglise?
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025

Arthur Martirosyan - Constitution, Western Controlled Syunik, Church Crackdown | Ep 452, Jul 6, 2025 [EP452]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 8, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Armenian Church, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, NATO, China, Economy, Genocide

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Constitution Day
Western Controlled Syunik?
What was Kallas Doing in Yerevan?
Russian-Azerbaijani Relations
Coup dâEtat? Or Coup dâÃglise?
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025

Dziunik Aghajanian – Fallout from Israel’s War on Iran, Azerbaijan’s Confrontation with Russia, Pashinyan’s Persecution of the Armenian Church, while he courts the EU | Ep 451 [EP451]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 1, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, USA, Israel, Armenian Church, Artsakh, Georgia, Russia, Economy | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Iran War
Iran-Azerbaijan Relations
Russian-Azerbaijani Tensions
Russian-Armenian Relations
Persecution of The Church Continues
Kaja Kallas in Armenia
OIC Declaration

Episode 451 | Recorded: June 30, 2025

Dziunik Aghajanian – Fallout from Israel’s War on Iran, Azerbaijan’s Confrontation with Russia, Pashinyan’s Persecution of the Armenian Church, while he courts the EU | Ep 451 [EP451]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 1, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, USA, Israel, Armenian Church, Artsakh, Georgia, Russia, Economy

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Iran War
Iran-Azerbaijan Relations
Russian-Azerbaijani Tensions
Russian-Armenian Relations
Persecution of The Church Continues
Kaja Kallas in Armenia
OIC Declaration

Episode 451 | Recorded: June 30, 2025

Karen Kwiatkowski - Israel Attacks Iran, Where did Trump’s America 1st Go | Ep 450, June 28, 2025 [EP450]

Posted on Saturday, Jun 28, 2025 | Category: Iran, USA, Geopolitics, Israel, Ukraine, China, Russia, Armenia, NATO, Syria, Turkey, Middle East, Lebanon, Azerbaijan | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Karen Kwiatkowski

Topics:

The 12-Day War
Where did Trumpâs American 1st Go?

Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025

Karen Kwiatkowski - Israel Attacks Iran, Where did Trump’s America 1st Go | Ep 450, June 28, 2025 [EP450]

Posted on Saturday, Jun 28, 2025 | Category: Iran, USA, Geopolitics, Israel, Ukraine, China, Russia, Armenia, NATO, Syria, Turkey, Middle East, Lebanon, Azerbaijan

Groong Links:

Guest:

Karen Kwiatkowski

Topics:

The 12-Day War
Where did Trumpâs American 1st Go?

Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025

Transcript: Karen Kwiatkowski - Israel Attacks Iran, Where did Trump’s America 1st Go | Ep 450, June 28, 2025 [EP450]

Posted on Saturday, Jun 28, 2025 | Category: Iran, USA, Geopolitics, Israel, Ukraine, China, Russia, Armenia, NATO, Syria, Turkey, Middle East, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Transcript

The 12-Day War. Where did Trump’s American 1st Go?

Sergei Melkonian - Israel & Iran, Opposition Crackdown, Pashinyan in Istanbul | Ep 449, Jun 22, 2025 [EP449]

Posted on Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Economy, China, Middle East | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

Israel and Iran
Crackdown on the Opposition
Pashinyan in Istanbul
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Sergei Melkonian - Israel & Iran, Opposition Crackdown, Pashinyan in Istanbul | Ep 449, Jun 22, 2025 [EP449]

Posted on Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Economy, China, Middle East

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

Israel and Iran
Crackdown on the Opposition
Pashinyan in Istanbul
The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Arman Grigoryan - Iran and US vs Iran, Strategic Dangers to Armenia | Ep 448, Jun 23, 2025 [EP448]

Posted on Monday, Jun 23, 2025 | Category: Iran, Russia, Armenia, Israel, Politics, Syria, China, USA, Azerbaijan, European Union, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East, Georgia | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Arman Grigoryan

Topics:

Israelâs war on Iran and U.S. involvement
Risks of Iranian regime change or partition
Strategic dangers to Armenia

Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025

Arman Grigoryan - Iran and US vs Iran, Strategic Dangers to Armenia | Ep 448, Jun 23, 2025 [EP448]

Posted on Monday, Jun 23, 2025 | Category: Iran, Russia, Armenia, Israel, Politics, Syria, China, USA, Azerbaijan, European Union, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East, Georgia

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Arman Grigoryan

Topics:

Israelâs war on Iran and U.S. involvement
Risks of Iranian regime change or partition
Strategic dangers to Armenia

Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025

Fyodor Lukyanov - Israel Attacks Iran: Perspectives From Russia | Ep 447, Jun 16, 2025 [EP447]

Posted on Monday, Jun 16, 2025 | Category: Iran, Russia, Armenia, Israel, Politics, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Geopolitics, Turkey, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, China, Syria, Middle East, Economy | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Fyodor Lukyanov

Topics:

Israel hits Iran, talks collapse
Armenia at risk if Iran weakens
Russia hardens stance on Ukraine

Episode 447 | Recorded: June 15, 2025

Fyodor Lukyanov - Israel Attacks Iran: Perspectives From Russia | Ep 447, Jun 16, 2025 [EP447]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Fyodor Lukyanov

Topics:

Israel hits Iran, talks collapse
Armenia at risk if Iran weakens
Russia hardens stance on Ukraine

Episode 447 | Recorded: June 15, 2025

Transcript: Fyodor Lukyanov - Israel Attacks Iran: Perspectives From Russia | Ep 447, Jun 16, 2025 [EP447]

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, to analyze the geopolitical fallout from Israel’s surprise military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Rising Lion. We explore how the attacks may sabotage U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, shift Russia’s strategic calculus, and destabilize the South Caucasus—particularly Armenia’s Syunik province. We also examine the implications for Russia-Iran relations, the Zangezur corridor, and Azerbaijan’s military posture. Finally, we discuss Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, recent Read More