Iran 'must come to the table' on nuclear issue

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has urged Tehran to "come to the table" for talks on its controversial nuclear activities.

Her comments came as EU foreign ministers gathered for a meeting in Brussels, where they are expected to announce a phased ban on the purchase of oil from Iran.

It would be the latest EU measure to be introduced to punish Iran over its nuclear programme.

Tehran denies that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons and says talks and not sanctions are the only way to resolve the dispute.