Iron-based 1D nanostructures have been successfully prepared using an electrospinning technique and varying the pyrolysis atmospheres. Hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) nanotubes and polycrystalline Fe(3)C nanofibers were obtained by simple air or mixed gas (H(2), Ar) annealing treatments. Using the air annealing treatment, a high control of the morphology as well as of the wall thickness of the nanotubes was demonstrated with a direct influence of the starting polymer concentration. When mixed gases (H(2) and Ar) were used for the annealing treatments, for the first time polycrystalline Fe(3)C nanofibers composed of carbon graphitic planes were obtained, ensuring Fe(3)C nanoparticle stability and nanofiber cohesion. The morphology and structural properties of all these iron-based 1D nanostructures were fully characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy.