A British couple detained in Iran during a round-the-world motorcycle journey have been sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges, according to their family.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while transiting through Iran. They were later formally accused of spying — allegations they strongly deny. The pair are being held separately in Evin Prison, a facility in Tehran widely criticised for detaining political prisoners and foreign nationals.
The sentence was reportedly delivered by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court following a hearing in October that lasted around three hours. Family members say the couple were not permitted to present a defence. Lindsay Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, said no evidence had been publicly produced to substantiate the accusations.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the ruling as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable”. She pledged that the British government would continue pressing Iranian authorities until the couple are returned home. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said consular support remains a priority.
Bennett expressed deep concern about the couple’s welfare, stating they have endured more than a year in harsh conditions. He alleged they were held in unsanitary surroundings and have suffered physical decline. Applications for bail were reportedly rejected, despite lawyers arguing there was no legal basis for prosecution.
Iran has detained dozens of dual nationals and foreign residents in recent years, frequently on national security or espionage charges. Human rights organisations contend that such detainees are sometimes used as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.
Previous high-profile cases include Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, who were released in 2022 after the UK resolved a longstanding financial dispute with Tehran. Other European nationals, including French and German citizens, have also been freed following sustained diplomatic efforts.
The case unfolds amid renewed diplomatic contacts between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme, alongside continuing tensions between Iran and Western governments. Analysts suggest that foreign detainees can become entangled in broader geopolitical disputes.
The UK government continues to advise against all travel to Iran, warning that British nationals — including dual citizens — face a heightened risk of detention.
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