The EU held out hopes yesterday of returning to talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear drive, despite harsh criticism in Tehran of the bloc’s new package of sanctions.

We are not doing sanctions for the sake of sanctions

“We are not doing sanctions for the sake of sanctions,” said a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton when asked whether the tough new measures might snarl efforts to return to the negotiating table.

“We are at the same time open for talks,” spokesman Michael Mann told a news conference.

“We have had good talks with Iran.

“We hope that the Iranians will be able to join us for talks,” he added. “We are very hopeful that the Iranians will be able to come forward.”

Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country would not give in to “bullying” at the negotiating table from world powers over its contested nuclear programme.

“But when did we leave the table that now we need to return to?” he asked.

“Their real objective is (forcing) the Iranian nation to surrender to their bullying at the negotiating table... (but they) are too weak to bring Iran to its knees,” he said.

Ashton has been leading stalled talks between global powers and Tehran over fears that Iran is using the programme to develop atomic weapons capability.

Iran denies that, saying its nuclear activities are purely peaceful.