Obama, Putin discuss Iran nuke deal

President Obama on Wednesday phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Iran nuclear deal. 

The president called his Russian counterpart aboard Air Force One on his way to Oklahoma, according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz. 

{mosads}The leaders agreed the deal “represents an historic solution that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon by cutting off all of the pathways to a bomb while ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program going forward,” the White House said. 

The United States and Russia were both influential members of the six-nation group that finalized the accord with Iran, which placed limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. 

The two countries, however, found themselves at odds over lifting a United Nations arms embargo on Iran, which created a late snag in the talks. 

The United States and its European negotiating partners were resistant to the move. But Russia and China, which could sell weapons to Tehran, wanted to see the embargo lifted. 

The sides reached a compromise, which keeps the embargo in place for five years and a ban on ballistic missile sales for eight, as long as Iran abides by the terms of a deal. 

Obama expressed confidence the U.S. could successfully “snap back” sanctions against Iran if it violates the agreement, even without buy-in from Russia and China.

If Iran objects to inspections of suspected nuclear sites “we can override it … and we don’t need Russia or China in order for us to get that override,” the president said at a news conference on Wednesday. 

“If they continue to object, we’re in a position to snap back sanctions and declare that Iran’s in violation and is cheating,” he added. 

Putin phoned Obama late last month ahead of the original June 30 deadline to reach an agreement with Iran. They also discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. 

It was the first time the two leaders had spoken since February.