Iran Jails British Couple on Round-the-World Bike Trip for 10 Years on Espionage Charges
- 8 hours ago
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Iran has sentenced a British couple to 10 years in prison after convicting them of espionage, drawing strong criticism from the United Kingdom and intensifying diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both in their 50s and residents of East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while travelling across Iran as part of a global motorcycle tour. Iranian authorities accused them of collecting sensitive information under the cover of tourism, an allegation their family has firmly denied.
The couple were tried before a branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran during a brief hearing last October. Relatives say the proceedings lasted only a few hours and that the pair were not given a meaningful opportunity to mount a defence.
They are currently being held separately in Tehran’s Evin prison, a facility frequently criticised by international rights organisations over detention conditions and limited access to legal support. Family members have expressed growing concern over their health and emotional wellbeing.
According to relatives, the couple are permitted limited contact, with rare supervised meetings. Their son has described the separation and uncertainty as deeply distressing for both parents.
The British government has strongly condemned the verdict. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the sentence as unjustifiable and pledged continued diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
London has reiterated its warning against travel to Iran, particularly for British nationals, citing risks of arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecutions.
The case adds to ongoing friction between Iran and the United Kingdom, with Western governments previously accusing Tehran of detaining foreign nationals as leverage in broader geopolitical disputes, a claim Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected.
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