New piece out (with my dear friend Ali) in the @thebulletin.org. thebulletin.org/2026/04/trum...

Trump's 'a whole civilization will die' threat against Iran exploits long-standing ambiguity over what Washington considers legal in war

President Trump's latest ultimatum promising massive infrastructure strikes on Tuesday night confirms that the international community may face a stark, kinetic escalation in the war in Iran.

thebulletin.org

President Trump's latest ultimatum promising massive infrastructure strikes on Tuesday night confirms that the international community may face a stark escalation in the war in Iran, write @alialkis.bsky.social and @ludovicacast.bsky.social.

Trump's 'a whole civilization will die' threat against Iran exploits long-standing ambiguity over what Washington considers legal in war

"These developments unfold within a broader context marked by a significant—and deeply troubling—erosion of international humanitarian law."

thebulletin.org

⚠️ New book review! ☢️The European Union’s nuclear non-proliferation policy: performance and contestation, Manuel Herrera 🔗 Link in bio! ✒️ @ludovicacast.bsky.social

My review of Manuel Herrera's book "The European Union’s nuclear non-proliferation policy : performance and contestation" is out with @intlspectator.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The Paradoxes of Procedural Power? Opportunities and Constraints in the EU’s Nuclear Non-proliferation Policy

Published in The International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs (Ahead of Print, 2026)

tandfonline.com

🗞️Call for Articles: Special Issue on Nuclear Security @alialkis.bsky.social and I are seeking proposals for a special issue on "Rethinking Nuclear Security in an Era of Renewed Geopolitical Competition and Technological Change." Deadline: Sept 15, 2025.

Wish I could relate to the excitement around war porn—but I can’t. Beyond the Tom Clancy spectacle, these attacks are framed as decisive blows: strength demonstrated, deterrence reasserted, technological superiority confirmed. 1/🧵

☢️ #NuclearPoliticsParadox No.10 🏭 @ludovicacast.bsky.social explores the longstanding problem of how to protect #NuclearFacilities against attacks, particularly in light of the #WarInUkraine and rising tensions in the #MiddleEast. #Israel #Iran 👉 bit.ly/43OBb1j

☢️ How can we protect nuclear facilities?

Ludovica Castelli explores the longstanding problem of how to protect nuclear facilities against attack — particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East. Until we e...

bit.ly

President Trump’s self-imposed deadline for a new Iran nuclear deal is about to expire, amid growing indications that the negotiations may collapse. Check out a new #IAICommentary by @ric-alcaro.bsky.social & @ludovicacast.bsky.social ➡️ www.iai.it/en/node/20192 Some key points 🧵

📚Latest in IR Spring Book round up released by BISA members📚 🌟 Inc: 🌟 @elgarpublishing.bsky.social @springernature.com @oxunipress.bsky.social‬ @andrewfutter.bsky.social‬ @ludovicacast.bsky.social‬ @cameronhunter.bsky.social‬ ‪@joedevanny.bsky.social‬ find out more 👉 buff.ly/s7yUWdk

The latest in IR - spring book round up

Each quarter we bring you updates on the latest book releases from BISA members.

buff.ly

Language matters in diplomacy—not only as a tool of persuasion, but as a reflection of power asymmetries, historical memory, domestic legitimacy. When it comes to nuclear diplomacy, where power asymmetries are striking, language particularly matters. My latest for: www.stimson.org/2025/languag...

Language, Memory, and the Fragility of US–Iran Nuclear Diplomacy • Stimson Center

For Iran, invoking the ‘Libya model’ brings complex dynamics to the forefront as Tehran weighs the risks of trusting and compromising with Western actors.

stimson.org

🆕 Loop series ☢️ #NuclearPoliticsParadox launched today. ✍🏽 In coming weeks, contributors inc. @megandee.bsky.social @marenvieluf.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @susmonika.bsky.social and @carolinapanico.bsky.social will offer perspectives on the nuclear debate theloop.ecpr.eu/tag/nuclear-...

The Loop@ecprtheloop.bsky.social · last yr.

☢ #NuclearPoliticsParadox #NuclearWeapons are, at the same time, peacekeepers and existential threats. ☢ Mahmoud Javadi explores disarmament efforts, technological disruptions, and global rivalries. ☢ In the first of a new series, he imagines pathways towards lasting stability. 👇 bit.ly/3Y0BXF0

New: ‘Great.’ US envoy appears to respond to Iran FM tweet asserting Iran will never pursue nukes open.substack.com/pub/diplomat...

‘Great.’ US envoy appears to respond to Iran FM tweet Iran will never pursue nukes

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff appeared to respond positively to the tweet by the Iranian diplomat, but later deleted it. The exchange came after an exchange of letters between Trump & Iran.

open.substack.com

Personal news - Last week, I submitted my PhD thesis and wrapped up 3.5 incredible years with the @ThirdNuclearAge project. Today marks my first day as a Research Fellow in the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Programme at @iaionline.bsky.social. Looking forward to this next chapter!

🎉 We're excited to share that the CfA for the Nuclear History Summer Camp 2025 is out! 📅 Sept 6-16, 2025 |📍Hiroshima, Japan 🎓 Open to Ph.D. students, postdocs, and M.A. graduates 💰 Fully funded 📝 Apply by April 15 at wilsoncenter.org/article/call... FMI 👉nuclearhistorysc@gmail.com

Last Friday, we launched The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics in the historic library of @rusi.bsky.social. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us! If you haven’t already, grab your copy – it’s open access! www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mon...

Wrapping up my last formal PhD meeting with my supervisors today—feeling a bit nostalgic, but also incredibly proud of this work.

Re-sharing this article co-authored with @olamidediy.bsky.social . On Feb 13-14, a Russian UAV hit the NSC at #Chornobyl. Meanwhile, Israeli officials continue to discuss strikes on Iran’s #nuclear infrastructure - possibly with US support. t.co/4OFOZ80itx

Inside a chaotic 48 hours of firings and rehirings at the agency responsible for maintaining the the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons. Managers were given 200 characters (not words) to justify why staff shouldn't be fired. www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...

Trump firings cause chaos at agency responsible for America's nuclear weapons

The National Nuclear Security Administration is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the U.S. stockpile of thousands of nuclear weapons. Officials were given hours to...

npr.org

Kicking off using this app w/ a new book! The Global Third Nuclear Age is now out & open access. Co-authored w/ a great team (inc. @andrewfutter.bsky.social @olamidediy.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @cameronhunter.bsky.social), w/ a forward by Paul Bracken. www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...

The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics

This book provides an in-depth examination of the technological, geopolitical and normative pressures driving the world into a new, more complex and potentially more dangerous Third Nuclear Age. By ad...

routledge.com

Excited to share that our new book, "The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics", is now available open access! 🎉 Looking forward to the discussions it sparks!

1. A perplexing essay from @richardmnephew.bsky.social. He points out the risks inherent to military strikes on Iran's nuclear program and suggests diplomacy is a better path. But then he notes talks may fail, and argues that "extreme steps" must be considered, including military action...

Ludovica Castelli is an expert on the history of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. In the latest episode of our podcast Researching Peace, Ludovica takes us on a fascinating journey through nuclear politics in the region and offers her take on recent events. 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/6tv2...

Western Assad apologists were some of the worst people online. Go to bat for authoritarian repression and deliberate violence against civilians, even deny well documented chemical weapons use. Highlighted anti-war v. reflexively anti-US/West. Tankies. Horseshoe leftists. Tulsi Gabbard. The worst.

Worth recalling how little we know about Syria’s former nuclear weapons effort. Whoever rules Syria next stands to inherit whatever documents the Assad regime retained (and let’s hope that’s all it is) assuming they haven’t been/won’t be destroyed.

“Iran to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges, UN watchdog says.” apnews.com/article/iran... Important context: IAEA said Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5%, far lower than the 60% it currently does, and far below weapons-grade.

Iran to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges, UN watchdog says

Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz.

apnews.com

Yesterday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi threatened to withdraw from the NPT if the E3 triggers the JCPOA snapback. What does this mean and what can states do about it? @jamiekwong.bsky.social and I have some ideas in @warontherocks.bsky.social warontherocks.com/2024/11/will...

Will Iran Withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? - War on the Rocks

The longstanding shadow conflict between Iran and Israel has entered a new, more dangerous phase of open confrontation. For decades, both nations engaged

warontherocks.com

Thrilled to see that our article, 'Justifying Attacks on Nuclear Facilities' (with @olamidediy.bsky.social), made it to the Recommended Reads list of the Center for Global Security Research at LLNL! Grateful for this recognition and for the ongoing discussions around this important topic.

Are you an early career scholar/practitioner interested in researching and having impact in nuclear arms control and disarmament? If so, apply now for the Atomic Anxiety in the New Nuclear Age 2025 Fellows Scheme. #NukeSky atomicanxiety.com/2024/11/14/2...

2025 Fellows Scheme Applications Now Open!

Are you interested in researching and having impact in nuclear arms control and disarmament? Do you want to join a community of scholars and practitioners exploring innovative ideas in the field of…

atomicanxiety.com