Iran and America haven't been on proper speaking terms since the Islamic revolution in 1979, and the oppressive, backward theocracy and "The Great Satan" have been at it ever since. Set against the continuing controversy about Tehran's nuclear ambitions and Washington's aggressive foreign policy stance in the Middle East, the two countries are probably closer to open conflict than they've ever been. So it's perhaps all the more surprising that the hard-liners on both sides now seem willing to talk to one another -- not about their own problems, mind you, but about the worsening violence in Iraq. Only hours after United States President George Bush on Tuesday said he supported talks with the Iranian leadership about the situation in neighboring Iraq, Iran's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signalled he would also be willing to back discussions with the Americans.

"If the Iranian officials can make the US understand some issues about Iraq, there is no problem with the negotiations," Khamenei said in a nationally televised speech according to the Associated Press. "But if the talks mean opening a venue for bullying and imposition by the deceitful party (the Americans), then it will be forbidden."

Khamenei is considered the leader of hard-liners  in Iran who has largely prevented reformists from opening greater contacts with the United States. Still, he has previously approved lower-level talks with American officials, including meeting on how to stabilize Iran's other neighbor, Afghanistan. But the Iraq talks are the first time Iran has formally agreed to hold direct meetings with the United States. No time or place has yet been set for talks, but the US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is set to lead the American delegation.

At a press conference in Washington, Bush said the talks with the Iranians would be "a way for us to make it clear to them about what's right or wrong in their activities inside of Iraq."

Both the United States and Iran have said the talks will focus solely on stabilizing Iraq and not deal with the heated issue of Iran's nuclear program. Whereas Tehran claims it only wants to develop a civilian energy program, Washington and the West believe the mullahs want to develop an nuclear weapon. With sectarian violence continuing on a daily basis in Iraq, any help from Iran to keep the country from plunging into a civil war would be welcomed by Washington. But with the West continuing its efforts to use the United Nations Security Council to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions, it's unclear how cooperative the Iranians are likely to be.

In Tuesday's speech, Khamenei also dismissed the threat of Security Council action over Iran's nuclear program, saying Tehran would reject any measures it considers to be against its interests. Khamenei also said Iran will pursue its nuclear program with all its "heart and soul."

Khamenei's comments come as the five permanent members of the Security Council were unable to agree to a sharply worded statement demanding that Tehran abandon its uranium enrichment efforts. Both Russia and China are resisting British efforts to draft a resolution that could pave the way for sanctions to be leveled against Iran in the future.