Russia's Putin begins a visit to Turkmenistan for forum with regional leaders, including Iran

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iran’s president on Friday at a time when Tehran is supplying weapons for Moscow’s war in Ukraine and concerns are growing over escalating attacks between Israel and Iran and its militant allies.

Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed the situation in the Middle East on the sidelines of an international forum in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, Russian state media said.

Moscow and Tehran signed a $1.7 billion deal for Iran to export drones to Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the U.S. also believes it has transferred short-range ballistic missiles.

Both countries were accused this week by Ken McCallum, the head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5, of carrying out a “staggering” rise in attempts at assassination, sabotage and other crimes on U.K. soil. McCallum said his agents and police have tackled 20 “potentially lethal” plots backed by Iran since 2022 and warned that it could expand its targets in the U.K. if conflicts in the Middle East deepen.

During the two presidents' meeting, Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow and Tehran's positions on international events are often very close, according to Russian state news agency Tass. He also invited the Iranian leader to visit Russia and Pezeshkian accepted, Tass said.

Speaking Friday as the forum opened, Putin said he wants to create a “new world order” of Moscow’s allies to counter the West, according to video provided by the Kremlin.

The conference is being attended by other regional leaders including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and the heads of the other Central Asian nations, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Putin is also expected to hold talks with the Turkmen president, Serdar Berdymukhamedov.

Berdymukhamedov was elected in March 2022 to succeed his father, Gurbanguly, who had run the gas-rich country since 2006.

Turkmenistan has remained largely isolated under autocratic rulers since it became independent following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Alexander Shcherbak, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during their meeting on the sidelines of the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Alexander Shcherbak, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pose for a photo during their meeting on the sidelines of the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Alexander Shcherbak, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2nd right, is greeted by Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, right, upon his arrival in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Alexander Shcherbak, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech at the International Forum "The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the basis of peace and development" dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

DENVER (AP) — One person was killed and 12 people were rescued after being trapped for about six hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said.

The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek when it had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants,” Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said.

The cause of the vistor's death was not immediately provided.

The 12 adults who were trapped about 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground had access to water and used radios to communicate with authorities, who told them there was an elevator issue, Mikesell said.

Mikesell said during a nighttime briefing that authorities do not know yet what caused the malfunction and an investigation is underway. Engineers worked to make sure the elevator was working safely again before bringing the stranded visitors back up on it. They had been prepared to bring them up by rope if necessary, had they not been able to get the elevator fixed.

Mikesell declined to reveal the identification of the victim.

The incident, which was reported to authorities at about noon, happened during the final week of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine season before it shuts down for the winter, Mikesell said.

Earlier in the afternoon, while the 12 were stuck at the bottom, 11 other people who were riding the elevator were rescued. Four had minor injuries but the sheriff did not elaborate on how they were injured.

The elevator ride typically takes about two minutes, travelling about 500 feet (152 meters) per minute, according to the mine’s website.

Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was in the 1980s when a couple of people were trapped on the elevator. Nobody died in that incident.

Mines that operate as tourist attractions in Colorado must designate someone to inspect the mines and the transportation systems daily, according to the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Mikesell said he didn’t know the date of the last inspection. Records of the inspections weren’t immediately available online.

Gov. Jared Polis sent state resources including a mine rescue team.

Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs.

The mine opened in the 1800s and closed in 1961, but still operates tours. Its website describes a one-hour tour in which visitors descend 1,000 feet (305 meters). It says they can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.

A woman named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the site of the mine in 1891 when she saw quartz laced with gold, according to the company’s website.

Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

First responders work the scene Thursday, Oct. 9, 2024, at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colo. (Arthur H. Trickett-Wile/The Gazette via AP)

A police officer moves a barrier for an emergency vehicle Thursday, Oct. 9, 2024, at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colo. (Arthur H. Trickett-Wile/The Gazette via AP)

Emergency personnel stage outside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colo., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, after one person died in an equipment malfunction during a tour of the mine according to the Teller County Sheriff's Department. Twelve other people remained trapped 500 feet below as of 4:30 p.m. (Arthur Trickette-Wile/The Gazette via AP)