The United Kingdom has strongly condemned a 10 year prison sentence handed down by Iran to a British couple on espionage charges calling the ruling “totally unjustifiable” and vowing to press Tehran for their release.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government will pursue the case “relentlessly” with Iranian authorities to bring Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely home and reunited with their family in Britain.
The couple from East Sussex were arrested in Iran on January 3 2025 while travelling on a global motorcycle tour. Tehran accused them of gathering information in several parts of the country allegations the Foremans deny.
Their trial held last year lasted just three hours during which the family says they were not allowed to present a defence and were given no evidence to support the espionage charge. Their son has expressed deep concern for their welfare and wellbeing in detention.
The couple are being held in Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison a facility known for detaining both political prisoners and foreign nationals on national security grounds. Human rights groups have criticised Iran’s practice of arresting foreigners as politically motivated a claim Tehran rejects saying such cases involve legitimate security concerns.
The UK government continues to provide consular support and warnings against travel to Iran remain in place due to the risk of arrest or arbitrary detention. Cooper’s statement emphasises that London will use all available diplomatic avenues to secure the couple’s release.
This case has further strained relations between Britain and Iran highlighting ongoing tensions over the treatment of foreign detainees and diplomatic detentions that governments say are used as leverage in broader geopolitical disputes.
