Washington (CNN) Hillary Clinton hailed the deal that the United States and other world powers struck with Iran on Tuesday as an "important step in putting a lid on Iran's nuclear program."

What's bound to draw attention as the agreement's political ramifications come into focus: Clinton owns a piece of it. She helped the negotiations get started.

The Democratic presidential front-runner said President Barack Obama -- who tapped her as America's top diplomat in his first term in office -- called her late Monday night to tell her that negotiators had struck a deal: Iran will rein in its nuclear program and allow for close monitoring.

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After a Tuesday morning meeting with House Democrats on Capitol Hill, Clinton tread carefully, saying she hadn't yet been brought up to date on the specifics of the agreement.

"Based on what I know now, and I will be being briefed as soon as I finish addressing you, this is an important step in putting the lid on Iran's nuclear program," she told reporters after that meeting.

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