铁腕 is a figurative noun meaning 'iron hand' or 'strong rule'. It combines 铁 (iron, hard) and 腕 (wrist), metaphorically describing a person or government that uses uncompromising, forceful methods to achieve control. You'll often see it used as an attributive noun before words like 政策 (policy), 手段 (measures), or 统治 (rule), or as the subject in phrases like 铁腕治国 (to rule with an iron hand). It carries a neutral-to-positive connotation in contexts where decisiveness is valued, but can be critical when describing authoritarian tactics.