We'll See Your Cancellation of Talks and Raise You One

The other day, Dr. iRack noted that Iran had pushed aside the prospect of talks with the United States to discuss the security situation in Iraq until the offensive in Sadr City ends. This happened after the United States had already turned down an earlier Iranian offer of talks. "Oh yeah, you don't want talks. Well, we'll teach you stinking Americans. We don't want talks either!" (envision thumb on nose and raspberry sound). Not to be outdone, the Iraqis have now come out and said that tensions between Tehran and Washington are so bad that talks are not possible at the moment. Ya think? Seriously, isn't this precisely the time for talks?