Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

Conversations on Groong - April 25, 2026

In this episode of the Groong podcast, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about the shifting geopolitical landscape across the Iran war, the Ukraine conflict, and the South Caucasus. We examine the fragile state of the Iran war and its impact on global trade and regional escalation, Russia’s strategic positioning, and the potential for a broader conflict involving Azerbaijan and Turkey. The discussion then turns to the Ukraine war, focusing on attrition, Europe’s growing militarization, and the prospects for a long-term Russia–Europe confrontation. Finally, we explore Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus, including Armenia’s political trajectory, tensions following Pashinyan’s Moscow visit, and the broader balance of power shaping Armenia’s future.

Topics:

• Iran war dynamics and Russia’s role
• Ukraine war and Europe’s militarization
• Armenia’s pivot and Russia’s response
• Regional power balance

• Dr. Dmitry Suslov

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 534 | Recorded: April 24, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/534

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kjUQN8LVuFk

#Russia #IranWar #UkraineWar #SouthCaucasus #Armenia #TRIPP #Geopolitics #Eurasia

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Conversations on Groong - April 23, 2026

In this Conversations on Groong episode, Warwick Powell joins us to examine the Iran war through the lens of thermoeconomics, energy flows, de-dollarization, and shifting global power. We discuss how oil, gas, AI, data centers, and financial infrastructure shape modern conflict, why the dollar-based order is under pressure, and how BRICS and the Global South are responding. The conversation also looks at techno-economic sovereignty, thermoeconomic imperialism, and the wider geopolitical stakes for the emerging world order.

Warwick Powell’s Book: Thermoeconomics in a Time of Monsters: Rethinking Theory, China and International Geopolitical Economy

Topics:

• Thermoeconomics and global power
• Iran war and energy
• De-dollarization and sovereignty
• Armenia: AI data centers, SMRs, and imperialism

Guest: Warwick Powell

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 533 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/533

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8upbRV0lzjE

#WarwickPowell #IranWar #Thermoeconomics #DeDollarization #EnergyPolitics #GlobalSouth #BRICS #AI #Geopolitics #DataCenters #Geoeconomics

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Groong Week in Review - April 19, 2026

In this Week in Review episode, Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian discusses the stalled Iran negotiations after the Islamabad talks, the renewed pressure around Hormuz and the naval blockade, Turkey’s posture toward Israel and the region; Armenia’s lower-profile participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum; Russia’s shifting rhetoric on TRIPP and the South Caucasus; and the June 7 parliamentary election in Armenia, including constitutional changes, border concessions, the gas pipeline rerouting issue, and the use of surveillance and arrests against opposition figures.

Topics

• Iran War Update
• Antalya Diplomatic Forum
• Armenian Parliamentary Election

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 532 | Recorded: April 20, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/532

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Groong Week in Review - April 5, 2026

Topics:

• Iran War Update
• 2016 April War
• Aftermath of Pashinyan in Moscow
• Domestic Politics & Election

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 530 | Recorded: April 7, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/530

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/QAkX9PiR484

#Groong #Armenia #IranWar #Pashinyan #ArmenianNews

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Groong Week in Review - April 12, 2026

In this episode, we examine a fast-moving regional and political landscape, from the collapse of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad and the threat of a new naval blockade, to Viktor Orban’s election loss in Hungary and what it may signal for Armenia and the wider region. We also dig into new polling from Armenia, including public views on security, the Iran war, free speech, voter turnout, and party support ahead of the 2026 elections. Along the way, we look at the Abkhaz railway as a possible alternative trade route, questions around TRIPP and Armenia’s growing dependence on Azerbaijan and Turkey, and what the latest numbers may reveal about the strength, weakness, and strategy of Armenia’s opposition.

Topics: 

• US-Iran Talks in Pakistan
• Orban Loses Hungary Elections
• Armenian Parliamentary Elections
• Polls: MPG, IRI, ARAR, EVN

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 531 | Recorded: April 14, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/531

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ZzhV5xsXFks

#Armenia #IranWar #ArmenianPolitics #HungaryElections #ArmeniaPolls

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Conversations on Groong - April 4, 2026

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Pietro Shakarian joins Hovik and Asbed to examine the Iran war, its impact on Russia, Ukraine, and the wider Eurasian balance, and what it means for Armenia’s security and foreign policy. The discussion also looks at Pashinyan’s strained Moscow visit, the uncertain future of TRIPP, Armenia-Russia tensions, and the fast-forming landscape of Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, including the opposition field, campaign narratives, and the stakes for the country’s political future.

Topics:
  - The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
  - Armenia-Russia Relations
  - Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Guest: Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:
  - Hovik Manucharyan
  - Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 529 | Recorded: April 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/529

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis
#ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Groong Week in Review - March 29, 2026

Our guest Anna Karapetyan focused on the widening Iran war and its possible fallout for Armenia, then turned to the narratives shaping Armenia’s election season. The discussion examined Pashinyan’s claim to have delivered peace, the taboo around speaking about Artsakh and Artsakhtsis’ rights, the uncertainty around the TRIPP corridor project, the political use of fear that an opposition victory would bring war, and the security and environmental questions surrounding a proposed AI data center. In the closing segment, the participants reflected on the broader propaganda environment in Armenia and on Formula 1’s continued partnership with authoritarian states such as Azerbaijan.

Topics

• Iran war escalation and spillover
• Pashinyan’s Fake “peace” narratives
• Elections built on fear-mongering
• Silencing talk of Artsakh

Guest

• Anna Karapetyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 528 | Recorded: March 30, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/528

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Groong Week in Review - March 22, 2026

This Week in Review featured Asbed and Hovik without a guest. We discussed the death of Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Armenian government’s blocking of Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II from attending the funeral; the latest turn in the Iran war and what it could mean for Armenia and the wider region; Israel’s renewed ground operation in southern Lebanon; and Armenia’s June elections, including political prisoners, media freedom, Civil Contract’s campaign tactics, the opposition field, EU involvement, and Strong Armenia’s messaging on TRIPP and security.

Topics

• Karekin II travel-banned from attending Catholicos Ilia II Funeral
• Iran War update
• Armenian June Elections

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 527 | Recorded: March 23, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/527

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Conversations on Groong - March 22, 2026

South Korean travel blogger YoungMin visited Artsakh after Azerbaijan's 2023 ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, becoming one of the few independent foreign visitors to document conditions on the ground after more than 100,000 Armenians were forced from their ancestral homeland. In this episode, YoungMin discusses what motivated his trip, what he saw in Stepanakert, Askeran, Agdam, and the surrounding areas, how Azerbaijani state narratives try to frame post-war tourism, and what the empty towns, damaged infrastructure, and erased Armenian presence reveal about the aftermath of the 44-Day War and the destruction of Artsakh.

Topics:
  - YoungMin’s journey into post-2023 Artsakh
  - Controlled access, guided narratives
  - Erasing traces of Armenians
  - In Agdam, Askeran, and Stepanakert
  - Memory, loss, and the aftermath of ethnic cleansing

Guest: YoungMin

Hosts:
  - Hovik Manucharyan
  - Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 526 | Recorded: March 21, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/526

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/j9QYiYFnj68

#artsakh  #Armenia #YoungMin #NagornoKarabakh #EthnicCleansing

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Conversations on Groong - March 22, 2026

Topics:

• Iran at War
• The Northern Front: Turkey & Azerbaijan
• Changing Nakhijevan's Constitution

Guest: Eldar Mamedov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 525 | Recorded: March 20, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/525

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pWd_-iNIM8E

#GroongPodcast #EldarMamedov #IranWar #Azerbaijan #SouthCaucasus

Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong