A setback

First the United States entered a public feud with Israel over construction of new housing in a disputed area of East Jerusalem.

Now, Russia is the agitator, having built and fueled a nuclear power plant in Iran. Arriving in Moscow Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Russia for its announcement that the Russian-built reactor at the Bushehr plant would start generating electricity in Iran by this summer.

The problem is, the international community suspects Iran is working on nuclear weapons. Tehran has not convinced anyone that is not the case.

Russia is part of the U.N. Security Council, and its cooperation is being sought to put more pressure on Iran. But Russia is also a business partner with Iran.

After learning that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin had announced the project earlier in the day, Secretary Clinton spoke out.

"If (Iran) reassures the world, or if its behavior is changed because of international sanctions, then they can pursue peaceful, civil nuclear power," Mrs. Clinton said. "In the absence of these reassurances, we think it would be premature to go forward with any project at this time because we want to send an unequivocal message to the Iranians."

Standing by her side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was undaunted. "Russia is involved, and this project will be completed," Mr. Lavrov said. "This nuclear power plant will finally be launched, and it will generate electricity."

So much for solidarity against nuclear proliferation in Iran. Mr. Lavrov's explanation that the plant will help U.N. atomic energy monitors maintain a presence in Iran is unconvincing.

Since Moscow is enabling Iran's suspect nuclear power activities, what are the chances Russia will join the United States in seeking sanctions against Iran?

Unlikely. Is this the improved U.S.-Russian relations that have been heralded? It seems more like an affront to the administration.