Wildfire Sets Off Landmines Around Iran's Evin Prison

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
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Wildfire Sets Off Landmines Around Iran's Evin Prison

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)

Iran's judiciary said that a wildfire caused by very hot weather flared for a short time on Friday in the grasslands surrounding Evin prison, detonating landmines in a security area around the facility, according to Reuters.

The judiciary's Mizan news agency reported that the fire, which lasted only "a few minutes," was immediately controlled, and no damage was caused to the prison facilities.

The agency added, "The fire spread to the protected hills around Evin Prison and caused several mines to explode."

The agency did not mention any human casualties or details about the type of landmines.



Hegseth Says the Pentagon Has Given Trump Possible Options for Israel-Iran Conflict

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Hegseth Says the Pentagon Has Given Trump Possible Options for Israel-Iran Conflict

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Wednesday that the Pentagon was providing possible options to President Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran but would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli strikes, an action that could risk dragging America into a wider war in the Middle East.

Hegseth was on Capitol Hill for the last of his series of often combative hearings before lawmakers, who have pressed him on everything including his use of a Signal chat to share sensitive military plans earlier this year.

In questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said "maximum force protection" was being provided for US troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a "bunker buster" bomb to strike at the core of Iran's nuclear program, which would require US pilots flying a B-2 stealth bomber. He would not indicate what the US may do next.

"My job — our job, the chairman and I — at all times is to make sure the president has options and is informed of what those options might be and what the ramifications of those options might be," Hegseth said, referring to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who was testifying alongside him.

The US has shifted significant numbers of refueling tanker and fighter aircraft to position them to be able to respond to the escalating conflict, such as supporting possible evacuations, or airstrikes. Hegseth said this week that was done to protect US personnel and airbases.

Hegseth's testimony last week in three congressional hearings also was taken over by events, with the Trump administration dispatching the National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines to the protests in Los Angeles against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wishes. It came just ahead of a massive military parade to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, which coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday.

In the previous hearings — where Hegseth appeared to discuss the Pentagon's spending plan — lawmakers made it clear they are unhappy that Hegseth has not provided full details on the administration’s first proposed defense budget.

Trump has said it would total $1 trillion, a significant increase over the current spending level of more than $800 billion.

Hegseth, who is appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, has spent vast amounts of time during his first months in office promoting the social changes he’s making at the Pentagon. He’s been far less visible in the administration’s more critical international security crises and negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Iran.