The U.S. and the European Union said Tuesday, October 30 they’ll press on with sanctions against Iran, even as they hope the promise of new negotiations could lead to a diplomatic solution ending the nuclear standoff, the Associated Press reported. Appearing together at a news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said both diplomacy and pressure would continue until Iran makes significant concessions over its disputed uranium enrichment activity. Ashton cited contact over the weekend between a top aide and an assistant to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and said she would be reaching out to Jalili “in the near future.” Still, there appeared to be no significant advance in the process since world powers instructed Ashton last month to speak with Jalili and gauge Iran’s seriousness on coming into compliance with its international nuclear negotiations.