Iran's positive potential should be used to settle Middle East problems, a Russian deputy foreign minister told an international forum in Jordan on Tuesday.

Alexander Saltanov told the "Middle East 2020: Is a Comprehensive Settlement Possible?" conference that Iran was playing quite a useful role in Afghanistan. On the Middle East, Iran "should not be part of the problem, it should be part of the solution to local problems."

"Tehran should be involved in the regional politics and the settlement of problems that have piled up there [in the Middle East]," the diplomat said.

Commenting on Russia's stance on the possibility of using international sanctions against the Islamic republic, Saltanov said his country pushed for political and diplomatic solutions first.

However, Saltanov urged Tehran to implement decisions adopted by the international community and the UN Security Council and respond to proposals as soon as possible.

The conference involving prominent politicians, experts and political analysts from Russia, Arab states and Israel, as well as a number of European countries and the United States, kicked off on Sunday. It was organized by Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti and the Russian Council for Foreign and Defense Policy within the framework of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

SUWEIMA, Jordan (RIA Novosti)