For the last couple of weeks, Iran has been promising to "stun" the West on February 11, anniversary of the Islamic revolution, as it continues developing nuclear capabilities in defiance of the U.S. and other world powers.

This threat comes on the heels of Iran's announcement that it will produce higher-grade uranium for a nuclear reactor. Despite denials, Iran clearly is on the road to nuclear weapons.

The U.S. and other countries likely will push for tougher sanctions. So far, Russia has refused to impose stronger sanctions against Iran. Russia's reticence at this point is particularly odd. Nikolai Patrushev, Russian secretary of the United Nations Security Council, said the West's concerns about the rogue state's nuclear program are well founded. He said that despite Iran's words, its actions "raise doubts in other countries and those doubts are quite valid." (Reuters)

The understatement of the decade.

Iran's actions speak louder than anything its leaders have to say. In addition to uranium enrichment, for example, the country plans to build unmanned aircraft designed to attack and conduct surveillance. Iran's opened two new missile production plants to make ground-to-air missiles, and its ambassador in Moscow said Russia intends to deliver to Iran S-300s, part of a deal brokered in 2007. We mentioned last year that Russia denied entering into such a deal.

It's a vicious circle. Russia is using Iran as leverage against our country's missile defense program in Eastern and Central Europe and START re-negotiations. In turn, the Iranian threat influences our missile defense strategy, and we increase deployment of missiles to the region, which angers Russia. And on and on.