Talks will resume next week on the future of Iran 's nuclear program with the goal of beginning to draft a comprehensive agreement in May , a senior Obama administration official said on Friday . The next round of negotiations will seek to build on the work that has been done since January , when an interim deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council took effect . That deal eased some economic sanctions in return for Iran rolling back parts of its nuclear program , which the United States and others believe is designed to produce a weapon . Iran says its nuclear intentions are peaceful . While officials in Washington are optimistic that negotiations are progressing on track , a number of significant potential roadblocks need to be worked through if a long-term agreement is to be reached . These include determining what will happen to Iran 's heavy water reactor in Arak , which the United States and its allies would like to see neutralized . That is a sticking point for Tehran . `` We know where the gaps are that have to be bridged , '' the official told reporters , adding that the United States remains clear-eyed about Iran 's motivations . New concerns have also been raised over reports that Russia is laying the groundwork for an oil-for-goods deal with Iran , which could violate the terms of the interim agreement and derail future talks . According to the official , the reports are being taken seriously but are not yet having a substantive impact on negotiations . The administration has communicated to all parties that violating limits on Iran 's oil exports could trigger new economic sanctions . This development comes less than three weeks after the United States and the European Union enacted a series of sanctions targeting Russian officials , in response to Russia 's annexation of Crimea .
U.S. and allies are looking for a comprehensive deal to curb Iran 's nuclear program . A six-month interim agreement took effect in January ; new round of talks begin next week .