British couple sentenced to 10 years in Iran on espionage charges

British couple sentenced to 10 years in Iran

A British couple has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran on espionage charges they deny. Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in January 2025 during a round-the-world motorcycle trip.

In a rare phone interview from Tehran’s Evin prison hours before the sentencing, Lindsay Foreman described the ordeal as “an endurance test for the mind.” She spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today program over a crackly line.

An endurance test in Evin prison

Lindsay Foreman said she tries to exercise by running “in circles” in a small prison yard. She acknowledged the physical toll but said, “I can regain it when I leave.”

She described the struggle to stay positive, taking things “one day at a time.” The couple, both in their 50s from Sussex, have been held in separate wings of the notorious prison for 13 months.

Their son, Joe Bennett, has said they have endured “dire” conditions surrounded by “dirt, vermin and violence.” Evin prison is known for holding political prisoners and has long been criticized for alleged torture.

A detained family feels abandoned

The Foremans were arrested on January 3, 2025, despite having valid Iranian visas, a guide, and an approved itinerary. They had crossed into Iran from Armenia on December 30, 2024, en route to Pakistan and Australia.

Their family says no evidence has been presented. Bennett stated the couple’s Iranian lawyers found no legal basis for the case, yet bail applications were ignored.

• At an October court hearing, they were not allowed to defend themselves.
• A judge at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court delivered the sentence.
• Bennett says letters to the UK prime minister and foreign secretary went unanswered, leaving the family feeling “abandoned.”

Hours before sentencing, Lindsay said they sent a letter to Iranian authorities in a “desperate attempt” for justice. “We have done what we can... believing that our innocence will prevail but it doesn’t seem to be the case,” she said.

UK government condemns unjust sentence

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called the sentencing “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable.” She pledged the UK would “pursue this case relentlessly” to secure the couple’s return.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, warning that British links can lead to detention. Lindsay Foreman told the BBC they checked government advice before entering. “I put my hand up and take responsibility for being here,” she said.

Human rights groups say Iran often detains foreign nationals for leverage. The BBC was previously told the Foremans may be used as diplomatic bargaining chips.

A pattern of detentions for leverage

Iran has arrested dozens of dual nationals in recent years, mostly on spying charges. At least 15 have had links to the UK.

Past cases show releases often follow diplomatic deals:

• British-Iranians Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were freed in 2022 after the UK settled a £650m debt to Tehran.
• French and German citizens have also been released following sustained government pressure.

Joe Bennett is now calling on the UK government to “act decisively and use every available avenue” to bring his parents home. The family awaits the next steps in a case they call utterly unjust.