Obama talks to new Iran President

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CNN

Shift in policy? Phone call between Obama, Rouhani
By Chelsea J. Carter, CNN
updated 5:32 PM EDT, Fri September 27, 2013
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Obama: Just spoke with Iran's president
STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Rouhani's tweets reflected tone of conversation, White House official says
President Obama says he spoke by phone with President Rouhani
Rouhani tweets the conversation about nuclear negotiations
Rouhani: Iran wants nuclear agreement "within a very short period of time"

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the first direct conversation between leaders of the United States and Iran since 1979.

Obama believes a comprehensive agreement is possible regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, telling reporters at the White House that "the test will be meaningful, transparent and verifiable action" and if proven would ease international sanctions in place against Iran.

Western leaders have expressed cautious optimism about Iran's more moderate tone under Rouhani. Among other things, recent comments by Rouhani have given some hope that a deal could be struck over the Middle Eastern nation's nuclear program.

During the conversation with Rouhani, Obama said he reiterated statements he made this week at the United Nations.
What did Obama say to Rouhani?
How far have Iranian relations come?
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"While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution," Obama told reporters at the White House.

On Friday, Rouhani said his election helped pave the way for better relations between the Iran and the West, which has imposed heavy sanctions on the country. He also said Iran wants quick resolution to the nuclear issue. Western leaders believe the country's nuclear program is designed to produce weapons. Iranian leaders have said it is purely peaceful.

"I assure you that on the Iranian side, this will is there fully, 100%, that within a very short period of time, there will be a settlement on the nuclear issue," he told reporters.

The news of the historic telephone conversation between the two presidents also played out on Twitter in Rouhani's posts. It was unclear whether Rouhani was retweeting direct messages between the two or curating his conversation on Twitter.

A senior Obama administration official said Rouhani's tweets reflected the tone of the telepone conversation between the two leaders. "We'll continue to watch his Twitter feed," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

According to Rouhani's posts, Obama told the Iranian president that he was "convinced relations between Iran and US will greatly affect the region."

"@BarackObama to @HassanRouhani If we can make progress on #nuclear file, other issues such as #Syria will certainly be positively affected," the president said in a follow-up message.

Rouhani responded, according to his tweet: "In regards to #nuclear issue, with political #will, there is a way to rapidly solve the matter."

He also told Obama, according to his Twitter post, he was hopeful about upcoming meetings on the issue between representatives of Iran and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the U.S., China, Russia, Britain and France -- as well as Germany.

"@HassanRouhani to @BarackObama: I express my gratitude for your #hospitality and your phone call. Have a good day Mr President," Rouhani said in post on Twitter.

Earlier, Rouhani told reporters he was heartened by Thursday's meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as part of a meeting between Iran and the six countries trying to tackle international concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

It was the first face-to-face meeting between such high-level officials of the two countries in more than 30 years.

Rouhani had a chance to at least shake hands with Obama while at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. But he told reporters Friday that there wasn't enough time to plan such a meeting.

Western leaders have said Iran seems to sound different under the leadership of newly elected President Hassan Rouhani. On Friday, it was Rouhani's turn to return the compliment, saying European Union officials and U.S. President Barack Obama sound "different compared to the past."

"I view that as a positive step in the settlement of differences between Iran and the West," he told reporters Friday.

I had a professor saying that this would be the ideal thing for the US to do to try and establish a diplomatic relationship with Iran. If nothing else, it's different than what the US has tried in the past.

[Chris OFarrell]

Not surprising they want a 'quick' end to the sanctions, they are having a pretty damn huge impact on Iran now, as in 'economy is on the edge' impact.

You get the feeling that this guy has been instructed in no uncertain terms to get them lifted ... but I can't see that happening without Iran making the first (big) moves.

[Broomstick]

Well, at some point Nixon had to go to China and the US started talking with the USSR and vice versa....

So really, I view this as a good initial step. It's not guaranteed to go anywhere, but if the two nations don't start with this they really won't go anywhere.

I expect there will be naysayers on both sides (that's how I recall it shaking out with the two prior instances I mentioned, back during the Cold War) but here's hoping it's the start of something positive.