What is really happening inside Iran right now—and are we witnessing the beginning of the end of the regime? In this conversation, Khosro Isfahani, research director at the National Union for Democracy in Iran, breaks down the dramatic developments unfolding on the ground in Iran—from targeted assassinations of key leaders to cracks in security forces.

Khosro explains why the removal of powerful figures is more than symbolic, how the regime’s structure is being tested like never before, and whether its leadership is truly replaceable—or nearing collapse.

In this episode, I sit down in the heart of Yerevan’s Republic Square with retired U.S. Army Colonel and former Military Attaché to Armenia, Greg Pipes, for a deep dive into one of the most surprising geopolitical developments of the year: the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—known simply as TRIPP.

Greg breaks down why this proposed corridor through southern Armenia could reshape the South Caucasus and Central Asia. We explore how a short stretch of road—reviving an old Soviet rail line—might link Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhichevan, open a land route from Central Asia to the Mediterranean, and create new incentives for peace in one of the world’s most historically tense regions.

We also discuss:

• Why previous peace efforts failed for decades

• How U.S. strategic interests and the Trump administration’s regional diplomacy accelerated negotiations

• The unexpected role of Central Asian states and Kazakhstan’s recent foreign-policy pivot

• Why Armenians are divided on the plan—and why economic opportunity might shift the debate

• How increased Western involvement could change Armenia’s future

From regional security to trade routes, from the Abraham Accords to Armenia’s economic prospects, this episode uncovers the layers behind a project that could transform the geopolitical map.

Join us for a timely and nuanced conversation about conflict, commerce, and the hope for peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus.