Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will unveil to the world “giant achievements” on February 11, which marks the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Many believe the announcement will be related to Iran’s nuclear program—possibly an increase in the number of centrifuges from the current 328 to 3,000.

In advance of the February 11 announcement, Iranian scientists proclaimed that they have “introduced an AIDS cure.” Fars reported, “After seven long years of arduous work, Iranian scientists here on Saturday introduced a herbal medicine which cures Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).” Iran’s Minister of Health Kamran Bagheri Lankarani claimed, “The drug named ‘IMOD’ is completely effective and safe with no proven side effects.”

Mr. Ahmadinejad stated that his country is ever vigilant and will once again disappoint its “ill-wishers,” adding, “The bullying forces are aware of Iran’s development and the growing trend of its relations with other countries. Their new plan is also doomed to failure. Therefore, the enemies of the Iranian nation will get nowhere.

“They have mobilized their entire propaganda facilities to prevent our nation’s progress, but they have failed in all stages. Today, they suppose that they can disrupt the unity of the Iranian nation, but they will never manage to sow seeds of discord among Iranian people.”

Mr. Ahmadinejad urged his people to participate in transforming Iran into a developed country.

“They are against Iran’s advancement and that of independent nations. However, they should know that the era of their hegemony is over and that Iranians will overcome all obstacles facing them to access the peak of technology.

“During the current week, great achievements will be introduced to the Iranian nation. This will prove to the nation’s enemies that if a nation is determined to have faith in God Almighty and rely on itself, the Lord will help it and they will manage to gain constant victories,” he said.

Will Iran continue on its current path of defying the international community? If so, what does that mean for the world? Will the United States or Israel be “forced” to take military action?

The Real Truth article “A Nuclear Middle East?” discusses this possibility:

“Israel has not ruled out preemptive military action against Iran similar to its 1981 air strike against an atomic reactor in Iraq, although many analysts believe Iran’s nuclear facilities are too fortified and scattered for Israel to take on alone.

“Some observers view President George W. Bush’s decision to dispatch another aircraft carrier battle group to the Persian Gulf, create a ‘troop surge’ of 20,000 more soldiers in Iraq, along with deploying more Patriot missiles to U.S. military bases in the region, as keeping his options open in the event of a military attack on Iran.

“On January 26, President Bush denied his administration was preparing military action against Iran, but he did confirm he authorized U.S. troops to hunt down or take out Iranian operatives in Iraq. Some view this order as a prelude to tougher action. Two weeks earlier, he pledged to ‘interrupt the flow of support [for extremists in Iraq] from Iran and Syria…We will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.’”