Washington ? The United States and five partner countries have accepted Iran’s new offer to hold talks, even though Iran insists it will not negotiate over its disputed nuclear program, the State Department said Friday.

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters that although Iran’s proposal for international talks — presented to the six nations on Wednesday — was disappointing for sidestepping the nuclear issue, it represented a chance to begin a direct dialogue.

“We are seeking a meeting now based on the Iranian paper to see what Iran is prepared to do,” he said. “And then, as the president has said, you know, if Iran responds to our interest in a meeting, we’ll see when that can occur. We hope that will occur as soon as possible.”

Such a meeting could lessen immediate pressure on President Barack Obama to abandon his diplomatic outreach to Tehran, which has yet to yield concrete results.