President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke directly on Friday in the highest-level contact between the United States and Iran in decades. Obama made the announcement shortly after the conversation took place.

President Obama: “Just now I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. I reiterated to President Rouhani what I said in New York. 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 said both he and Rouhani have directed aides to continue negotiations. Iran is seeking a resolution to the international standoff over its nuclear program in order to lift crippling U.S.-led sanctions.