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The family of a British couple jailed in Iran say they have lost all contact with them, sparking fears for their safety.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on a motorcycle trip from Europe to Australia. They were later sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges, which they deny.

The couple's son, Joe Bennett, said he has not spoken to his mother for over a week and is "terrified" for their safety.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the couple's detention has been led by UK media, with the BBC and The Guardian both carrying extensive reports. While both outlets tell the same core story, their focus has differed. The BBC's reporting has centered on the couple's personal accounts of their detention, including an interview conducted via phone from Evin prison. The Guardian, meanwhile, has emphasized the family's perspective, including their fear that the couple's telephone access was cut off as payback for speaking to the media.

A key point of difference is the status of the couple's contact with the outside world. The BBC reports that their son receives regular phone calls from the couple via payphones, while The Guardian, citing the family, reports that this contact has now ceased.

Key claims

  • Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in Iran in January 2025 while on a round-the-world motorcycle trip. Both sources corroborate that they were later sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges.
  • The couple is being held in Tehran's Evin prison and both deny the charges against them, according to reports from the BBC and The Guardian.
  • The couple's son, Joe Bennett, has stated that a telephone call with his mother and step-father is being facilitated through the Foreign Office, according to a report from the BBC.
  • A claim carried by a single outlet and not yet independently verified is that the couple's phone access has been cut off as retribution for speaking to the media. The same report notes the UK Foreign Office has temporarily withdrawn staff from Iran due to the threat of US strikes.
  • The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, warning that British nationals face a "significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention."

Perspectives

In an interview conducted before contact was lost, Lindsay Foreman told the BBC she is struggling with the prospect of a long detention. "I'm dealing with the realisation that we're likely to be here for a long time," she said. Her husband Craig added, "We are innocent people. We have committed no offence," and pleaded with the UK government to "take action".

The UK Foreign Office, which has previously described the sentences as "completely appalling and totally unjustifiable," has stated that the couple's welfare is a priority for the government. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, warning of a "significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention" for British nationals, noting that "having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you".