During the secret negotiations, President Obama wanted to speak to the then-president of Iran, President Rouhani.

“Historical records confirm that U.S. President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a historic phone conversation on September 27, 2013. This was the first direct communication between the leaders of the two nations since 1979. The call took place as President Rouhani was concluding his visit to the UN General Assembly in New York and was a pivotal moment in the diplomatic efforts that led to the Iran nuclear deal. While some reports suggest the immediate request for the call came from the Iranian side, it was part of a broader U.S. diplomatic strategy to engage directly with Iran. Context: This phone call was a major diplomatic breakthrough, marking the highest-level contact between the United States and Iran in over three decades. It followed a series of secret negotiations and signaled a mutual willingness to find a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.”