WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Friday afternoon that he’s spoken by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

It’s the first conversation between American and Iranian presidents in more than 30 years.

Obama says after speaking with Rouhani, he believes the U.S. and Iran can reach a comprehensive solution over Iran’s nuclear program.

Obama says he and Rouhani have both directed their teams to work quickly to pursue an agreement. He says the U.S. will coordinate closely with its allies, including Israel, which considers an Iranian nuclear weapon capability to be an existential threat.

Obama says the conversation shows the possibility of moving forward.

Iranian and U.N. officials have been meeting to continue talks on how to investigate suspicions that Iran has worked secretly on trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies that claim.