MOSCOW. Feb 13 (Interfax) - The threat of a military solution of the Iranian nuclear problem has reduced, State Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman Alexei Pushkov told a Wednesday press conference at Interfax.
"The United States has changed its tone a bit. As you remember, a lot was said about the so-called military solution of the Iranian problem last summer," he said.
U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden "put the emphasis on diplomatic methods" in solving the Iranian nuclear problem at the latest Munich Conference, Pushkov said.
"Interesting, Europe prefers a peaceful solution [of the Iranian nuclear issue]. Yes, we should insist on the Iranian rejection of nuclear weapons but not with military methods," the committee chairman stressed.
Pushkov said he was alarmed with "the mistrust expressed by the audience in the Iranian foreign minister who appeared at the session on Iran and started to present the Iranian position: the reaction to his speech was rather rough and negative."
"This means our Western partners do not want to listen to Iran although they call for a dialogue," Pushkov said.
Obviously, the military scenario of the solution of the Iranian nuclear problem "has been put by Obama in the top drawer even it was on the table at first. We hope he will put it in the bottom drawer in the end," he said.
Concerning the Russian position on Iran, Pushkov said, "Russia is not interested in a nuclear Iran… But we reject a military solution."