Russia will maintain neutrality ina possible armed conflict between Iran and the United States, Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Baluyevsky said on Wednesday.

"Unequivocally, and I'm saying it as chief of the General Staff,Russia will not be offering the use of its armed forces on either side," Baluyevsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

He called for resolving the Iranian nuclear problems through negotiations.

"A diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear problem is the only right path; one should walk on it, the nuclear problem shouldbe resolved under strict control by the International Atomic Energy Agency," Baluyevsky said.

According to Baluyevsky, a military solution of the Iranian problem will be "a big political and military error."

"We are very well aware of the balance of forces between the United States and Iran, but I repeat -- a war is not the way one has to choose," Baluyevsky stated.

He reminded about the statement made by the Iranian army chief of staff that "Iran does not plan to create the nuclear weapon, and the system of control over nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies exists and demonstrates its effectiveness."