British couple lose espionage appeal in Iran as case moves to supreme court
The UK government confirms consular efforts continue as the couple’s family reports cut communications and hunger strikes at Tehran’s Evin prison.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a British couple aged 53, have lost their appeal against convictions for espionage in Iran, according to their family. The pair were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February following their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran by motorcycle. The case has now been passed to Iran’s supreme court, marking the next stage in a legal process that the family describes as opaque and inaccessible.
The Foreman family, based in East Sussex, stated that the couple were denied permission to attend their appeal hearing. Joe Bennett, Foreman’s son, indicated that the pair were asked to sign documents they could not read and refused to do so, though the specific nature of these documents remains unknown to the family. Bennett noted that they do not understand the procedural timeline or what submissions, if any, are being made on the couple’s behalf at the supreme court level.
At Tehran’s Evin prison, the situation has deteriorated further. Craig Foreman is on day 25 of a hunger strike, while his wife Lindsay is on day 16. Iranian authorities have cut off all communication between the couple and their family, isolating them from external contact. The couple has consistently denied the espionage charges, maintaining their innocence since their arrest during a round-the-world trip.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) expressed disappointment with the appeal decision and confirmed that ongoing consular efforts are underway. The department stated that Britain’s ambassador to Tehran, along with diplomats in London, has been working to provide assistance, including prison visits and facilitating calls with family members. Minister Falconer met with the family on 18 May, following a meeting with the foreign secretary on 17 March, where both officials reiterated the UK’s view of the incarceration as unjustified.
Despite these diplomatic engagements, the family reported leaving recent meetings without clarity on the specific pressure being applied to Tehran. The FCDO continues to warn all British and British-Iranian nationals against travelling to Iran due to a significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention, a stance that underscores the ongoing security concerns for UK nationals in the region.
