WASHINGTON - The US would be willing to consider any proposal presented by Iran as long as it addresses international concerns about the Islamic state’s nuclear activities, the US State Department said Wednesday.

‘We’ve said we’re willing to have a direct dialogue with Iran,’ spokesman Robert Wood said. ‘And if they come up with some new package with regard to their nuclear programme, we’ll have to take a look and see what it is.’

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Washington Wednesday, hours after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he was open to exploring ways to improve relations with the United States.

Ahmadinejad also said Iran would be presenting a new proposal as a starting point for negotiations with the United States, four other permanent members of the Security Council - China, Britain, France and Russia - plus Germany. Solana, who leads the talks, has invited to another round of dialogue but said at the meeting with Clinton he

has not received a reply.

The United States and its partners suspect Iran is seeking a nuclear weapons capability, while Iran maintains the programme is purely for producing energy. Clinton said Ahmadinejad’s remarks would be a subject during the meeting with her EU counterpart.

Ahmadinejad said, however, Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment, which has been the subject of three Security Council resolutions.

President Barack Obama is open to holding dialogue with Iran, and according to The New York Times, would be willing to engage Iran directly without demanding that Tehran first suspend uranium enrichment - a key break with the Bush administration.

The New York Times reported Tuesday the Obama administration would consider holding talks with Iran with the objective of persuading Tehran to suspend enriching uranium. Wood said US policy toward Iran was still under review but that ’suspension is our goal.’