Will Obama see Iran leader at United Nations?

David Jackson | USA TODAY

The most discussed part of President Obama's trip to the United Nations next week is something that is not on the schedule.

Will Obama say hello to -- or even meet with -- new Iran President Hassan Rouhani?

Officials say there is no scheduled meeting between Obama and Rouhani, but the leaders confirmed a recent exchange of letters in the midst of their dispute over Iran's nuclear program.

They'll also both be at the United Nations early next week, and impromptu meetings have been known to happen.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama "believes there is an opportunity for diplomacy when it comes to the issues that have presented challenges to the United States and our allies with regards to Iran, and we hope that the Iranian government takes advantage of this opportunity."

Rouhani, who denies that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, told NBC News that he received a "positive and constructive" letter from Obama after the recent Iranian election, and it could augur "subtle and tiny steps for a very important future."

The Iranian president also told NBC: "We have never pursued or sought a nuclear bomb and we are not going to do so. We solely are looking for peaceful nuclear technology."

In an interview this week with Telemundo, Obama confirmed that he sent a letter to Rouhani "indicating the U.S.'s interest in resolving this nuclear issue, in a way that would allow Iran to rejoin the international community."

Obama added, however, that Iran must "show the international community that it's not trying to weaponize nuclear power."