Helsinki, Finland ? Despite mounting U.S. pressure for sanctions against Iran, the European Union said Friday it is too early to punish Tehran for its failure to halt uranium enrichment by the U.N. Security Council’s deadline.

The call for renewed diplomacy came as Iran’s president vowed never to give up a nuclear program that he said is being misrepresented by the West.

Iran ignored the Security Council’s Thursday deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, opening the way for consideration of economic or other sanctions against the Islamic republic, which the U.S. and others suspect is trying to develop atomic weapons.

The EU as a whole has been a moderate voice on the Iran issue. However, Britain and France support tough action, while Germany also is believed to back that stance.

And the bloc stressed Iran will not be given unlimited time to resolve Western suspicions about its nuclear aims and demands for strengthened international supervision of its atomic program.