Encouraged that newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani seemingly won a mandate to pursue a “more moderate course,” President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he’s directing Secretary of State John Kerry to pursue a nuclear weapons deal with Iran.

“We should be able to achieve a resolution that respects the rights of the Iranian people while giving the world confidence that the Iranian program is peaceful,” Obama said during a speech before the United Nations General Assembly.

Obama said that the U.S. will work in concert with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China in trying to strike a deal with Iran.

“The roadblocks may prove to be too great, but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested,” Obama said.