Conversations on Groong – August 16, 2025
Topics
– TRIPP Corridor & US Involvement
– US-Israel Strategy & War Risks
– Iran’s Missed Opportunities & Shifts
– Future of Iran–Armenia Relations
Hamid Bahrami’s article published by the Institute for Iran and Eurasia Studies (IRAS) in Iran:
Guest: Hamid Bahrami
Hosts:
– Hovik Manucharyan
– Asbed Bedrossian
00:00 Intro to show with Hamid Bahrami
02:20 Self intro of our guest
04:50 Why was Iran’s response to the Trump Route agreement mixed?
10:28 What are the internal reasons why decisions in the Iranian political system are complicated and slow?
12:58 Is the Supreme Leader part of the decision making problem points?
16:00 Why was the Russian response to the Trump Route so muted?
19:00 How real is the threat of Iran’s geopolitical encirclement by the Trump Route?
24:26 Could the Trump Project stop Armenia from cooperating with Iran?
26:16 How likely is another US-Israeli war on Iran?
28:35 Why was Iran’s northern foreign policy inert for decades while Israel was arming Azerbaijan?
33:21 Does the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with Russia change things?
37:25 Iranians’ perception of the deal with China in 2020?
38:46 After losses in the Middle East is Iran capable of defending its Red Lines in the South Caucasus?
42:00 Has Iran learned from setbacks in 2024 and 12-day war, and applying them to foreign & defense policies?
43:50 How possible are strong Iran-Armenia relations with Armenia’s current government?
48:11 What’s on Pezeshkian’s agenda in visit to Yerevan?
51:48 About Hamid Bahrami
Episode 461 | Recorded: August 13, 2025
SHOW NOTES:
#ArmenianNews #Iran #Armenia #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor
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21 Comments
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👌🏻 brilliant analysis!
❤️🇮🇷 ❤🇦🇲❤️….
I have the notification bell on but YT never notifies me!
Merci, it was informative. I am staying tuned to hear one or more of my Armenian compatriots in Iran or among Iranian Armenian diaspora to join you. As you know, Iranian Armeniam community has raised fine academic credentials in history and politics.
Iranians my respect to you as a full blood armenian. You have my loyalty. I chose my words carefully
Thanks!
Why are we surprised about Aliyev’s PR firms among the Iranian Azeris. When they are working in Europe and US governments?
10 months left to Armenia’s election. Who are the opposition candidates?
However, Armenia and the pro-Western government never tried to strengthen their relations with Iran, despite Iran repeatedly offering extensive military cooperation, but Armenia pursued military exercises with France and even the United States to guarantee security that they would never want and could never give to Armenia. If the essence of this corridor is the lack of sovereignty of Armenia, unfortunately it means the beginning of the end for Armenia and being sandwiched between Baku and Türkiye and swallowed up.
To be honest, Armenia has always been under Russian influence, and only in the last year or two have its relations with Russia become tense, following Pashinyan's turn towards Europe and America and the conflict in Ukraine. Relations between Armenia and Iran have not declined or weakened compared to the past, but rather Armenia's relations with the West have intensified, and it is natural that the West will not allow Armenia to progress in its relations with Iran.
Just a bit, value your efforts & wish peace, ❤ & 🦾 for Armenians
Very interesting SEPAH agent in Europe:)
There is no NATO. Trump killed it. Turkiye is the only naval power in Black Sea. Bahrami imagines Iran surrounded by Turkic states, which was the case for centuries, it is not a new situation. Iran's hands are tied when it comes to Azerbaijan and Turkiye. Bahrami does not know what he is talking. Iran needs to work with Azerbaijan and Turkiye, and I think the government of Iran realizes that.
Iran is not this occupying anti-Iranian regime. Look at their flag, it's not even Iran's national flag. Soon Iran will be liberated from this nightmare since 1979
Iran’s strategy should be the following: Pashinyan is likely to be replaced in next year’s election, because many Armenians see the Zangezur/Trump Route not as peace with Azerbaijan but as an existential threat. In addition, for any peace deal to be finalized, Armenia would need to change its constitution and remove territorial claims such as those over Nagorno-Karabakh. They also realize that the next move could be squeezing Armenia along with part of Azerbaijan and populating it with Takfiri elements.
I don’t think it is too late — it is late, but still there is time. Iran should work with influential forces inside Armenia and leverage media to promote this as a protection partnership — a win–win that guarantees Armenia’s security and provides Iran with strategic depth. By controlling sovereignty over that border zone, Iran would gain a vital buffer against hostile influence, secure land access to Armenia and beyond, and prevent adversaries from establishing a direct foothold on its northern frontier. This would not only safeguard Iran’s long-term regional position but also give Armenia a reliable security guarantee.
Both Armenia and Iran are facing existential threats in the upcoming war that Israel may launch against Iran. If Iran loses, it will be broken apart. And Armenia cannot exist as a viable state without a strong, unified Iran. Both sides must realize this and upgrade their relations to that of a strategic level.
Another informative Groong podcast!
As an Iranian, Iran has two different systems. The military and current Pezeshkian government. The military has to protect Iran. Whereas, Pezeshkian & his administration are trying hard to destroy Iran.
Hope, I have made it clear. Iranian people are fed up of Pezeshkian Araghchi Zarif & his administration.
When Pezeshkian comes to Armenia, if he has any military personnel with him. It's a positive sign & if not. Then, Don't trust him & his BS lies
Israel won't attack Iran. It is too weak and is collapsing apace both Militarily and economically. Hezbollah, Ansar Allah, Iraq And possibly Egypt will keep Israel too bust.
I see strong similarities with Pashinyan and Pezeshkian. I wonder how Syria and this corridor would have been handled by Raisi. Do people not consider that he was assassinated?
"the algorithm" seems to put the pirates in front of the creators. It does whatever YouTube wants it to.