MOSCOW – President Putin yesterday urged America to begin negotiations on a new weapons treaty to replace the key START agreement that expires in 2009.

“We have come to the moment where modernization of the whole architecture of global security is necessary,” Mr. Putin said in his speech to Russia’s diplomatic corps, a biannual assessment of Moscow’s place in the world and a chance to set new foreign policy goals.

“We call for the renewal of dialogue on key weapons reduction issues – first of all, we propose to our American partners to launch negotiations on replacing the START treaty,” Mr. Putin said.

The treaty,signed on July 31,1991, by America and the Soviet Union, places limits on the number of various types of vehicles and attributed warheads that could be deployed by either side.

Mr. Putin also focused on Moscow’s relations with Washington.

“Relations between such powers as Russia and the United States must be built exclusively on the basis of equal rights and mutual respect,” Mr. Putin said. The comment appeared to reflect the Kremlin’s frequent bristling at criticism from its old Cold War foe.

Turning to Iran, Mr. Putin said Russia had significantly contributed to helping resolve the crisis over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We will not participate in an ultimatum which would drive the situation into a dead end,” he said.

America and Europe are pressing Iran to respond quickly to a package of incentives to give up uranium enrichment and resume negotiations over its nuclear ambitions.

The West suspects Iran is enriching uranium to create nuclear weapons. Tehran contends the program is peaceful, intended to generate electricity.