Answer: A weapon
Backstage at the Stark Expo, Tony reviews his blood toxicity levels and finds that he's up to 19%; the number seems to be growing. As he leaves the expo he's served with a subpoena and told to head to Washington D.C. the next morning specifically to sit in at a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. The reason is that his Iron Man Suit is seen as part of a weaponized suit defence program and it's expected that he relinquish it to the government which, obviously, he does not wish to do. The DOD's Primary Weapons Contractor, Justin Hammer, is called into the room to discuss the suit, claiming that it's a sword and Stark is trying to call it a shield. James Rhodes is also called into the room having compiled a report on the Iron Man suit and, out of context, Rhodes' comments are used against Stark. Things turn around, however, when the senators try to show satellite photos from other nations' attempts at making copy suits. Stark debunks these claims though, also showing that Hammer himself is responsible for trying to make his own prototype. He also makes the claim that he has privatized world peace, and that's probably good enough for now.
Ivan Vanko continues to watch, live, in Moscow. He's been hard at work for six months. His unique, new suit, and the dangerous weapons he's made for it, seem to be coming together quite nicely.