Delegates arrived early at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday for international talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.<br/> <br />The talks are resuming after a six-month gap.<br/> <br />Iran faces pressure to come up with ways to scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crippling sanctions.<br/> <br />But the talks in Geneva are seen as the best chance in years to end the deadlock in a decade-long dispute that could otherwise trigger a new Middle East war.<br/> <br />The election of relative moderate Hassan Rouhani as Iran's new president, and his pledges to smooth Tehran's international relations, have raised hopes of a negotiated solution.<br/> <br />Speaking on the eve of the talks the European Union's foreign policy chief said she was cautiously optimistic about the coming two days.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF CATHERINE ASHTON SAYING:<br/> <br />"I hope that what we'll have here is a very productive two days, an opportunity to explor
