Additional Coverage:
British Couple Sentenced to 10 Years in Iranian Prison for “Spying”
Tehran, Iran – A British couple on a round-the-world motorcycle trip, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, have been handed a 10-year prison sentence by an Iranian revolutionary court on charges of “spying,” their family announced Thursday. The couple has been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since their arrest in January 2025.
The trial, described by their son Joe Bennett as lasting “just three hours,” reportedly denied the Foremans the opportunity to present a defense. They have consistently denied the espionage allegations, and their family states that Iranian authorities have provided no evidence to support the charges.
The British government reacted with outrage to the ruling. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the sentence as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable,” vowing to “relentlessly” pursue their release and safe return to the U.K.
In a recent phone call from prison, Craig Foreman described himself and his wife as “hostages,” expressing bewilderment at their 13-month detention. He detailed harsh conditions, including being held separately and his own 57-day stint in solitary confinement. Lindsay Foreman echoed these sentiments, describing “psychological torture” through false promises of release or visits.
The couple’s journey, intended as a “global initiative to focus on the good,” came to an abrupt halt after entering Iran from Armenia in December 2024. Despite having an approved itinerary to traverse the country, they were arrested four days after their arrival. The British government explicitly advises its citizens against travel to Iran due to the risk of arbitrary detention.
Human rights groups frequently report that Iran uses detainees, particularly those with foreign ties, as bargaining chips in international negotiations. This pattern was observed in 2022 when Britain settled an $875 million arms deal dispute to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, both of whom had been detained on similar charges.