Geneva, Oct 15 (IANS): Delegates of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany started a new round of talks with Iran here Tuesday over its controversial nuclear programme.

The talks between Iran and the P5 1 - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany - represented by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, resumed amid a relatively positive atmosphere, Xinhua reported.

Following Iran's election in June and the phone conversation between US President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani last month - the first contact between the two countries' presidents after over three decades - it is expected that some progress would be made during the talks here Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ashton said in a statement released Monday that she hoped that both sides would have "a very productive two days, an opportunity to explore both the proposals that we have put on the table, but also ideas that are coming from Iran".

"We have come here with cautious optimism but a real sense of determination," she said.

"I hope that in the course of that time, there will be an opportunity to really go into the details and to explore the possibilities."

The Iranian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif.