Axes and Atoms

The Wartime Origins of Iran’s Drone Program

Before this war started, I was working on a piece about Iranian thinking on deterrence and the role of Iran’s missile force.

10 hrs ago • Nicole Grajewski

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How Russia Learned to Make a Shahed

Revisiting the Leaked Alabuga Documents

Mar 13 • Nicole Grajewski

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Iran's February 28 Retaliation

Insight into the logic behind Iran’s Strike Campaign Across the Middle East

Mar 12 • Nicole Grajewski

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10 Days of War and 30-something Waves of Operation True Promise 4

What I am tracking and where I remain puzzled

Mar 9 • Nicole Grajewski

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Three Days into the Iran War: Targets and Objectives

What do the known targets say about the U.S. and Israeli campaign

Mar 4 • Nicole Grajewski

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February 2026

Iran's Military Capabilities (Translation of Interview with Le Monde)

Given that the war with Iran has started, I am posting the English language version of my interview with Le Monde on Iranian military capabilities from…

Feb 28 • Nicole Grajewski

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Here we go again: Iran nuclear talks

Per Reuters reporting, a senior Iranian official claims the upcoming talks with the United States in Oman (if they happen) will be limited strictly to…

Feb 4 • Nicole Grajewski

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Farewell to Arms Control

Russia and New START Expiration

Feb 4 • Nicole Grajewski

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January 2026

Moscow's Hand in Iran's Repressive Apparatus

Russian involvement in Iran's past protests

Jan 11 • Nicole Grajewski

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December 2025

Why Israel Wants to Strike Again: Inside Iran's Expanding Missile Threat

Israeli officials are preparing to brief U.S.

Dec 22, 2025 • Nicole Grajewski

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November 2025

How Russia Nearly Gave Iran a Gas Centrifuge Plant

Viktor Mikhailov, Bushehr, and a Secret Protocol from 1995

Nov 18, 2025 • Nicole Grajewski

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The Question of Russia's "Small" Nuclear Tests

The history of the Soviet and Russian low-yield nuclear tests

Nov 7, 2025 • Nicole Grajewski

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