- Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in Iran in January 2025 and sentenced to ten years in prison in February 2026
- The family describes the verdict as arbitrary and unfounded, as no evidence of espionage was presented
- British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called the conviction “utterly appalling and completely unjustified”
It was supposed to be a dream motorcycle trip around the world, but for British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, the journey ended in an Iranian prison. A court in Tehran has now sentenced the two to ten years in prison each on charges of espionage. The family strongly rejects the accusations and calls the verdict arbitrary and without any basis.
Five days of transit, 13 months in prison
The couple from the southern English county of Sussex, both in their fifties, had embarked on a motorcycle trip around the world. Their destination was Australia, and their route took them overland through Iran. On New Year’s Eve 2024, the Foremans entered the country with valid visas, a licensed tour guide, and a pre-approved itinerary. The plan was to spend only five days crossing the country.
The route took them through Tabriz, Tehran, and Isfahan. On January 4, 2025, Kerman in central Iran was to be the last stop before the journey continued eastward. However, the Foremans never arrived there. After posting on social media the day before, their phones suddenly went silent and the couple did not show up at their hotel. It was not until almost six weeks later that Iranian state media confirmed their arrest and charges of espionage.
Trial without defense
The trial took place at the end of October 2025 before Judge Abolghasem Salavati at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Salavati has already been sanctioned by the UK, the US, and the EU for, among other things, human rights violations and conducting show trials that have been internationally criticized for their lack of due process.
According to the family, the trial lasted around three hours. The couple were not allowed to present a defense. Nor was any evidence presented to support the espionage charges. The couple’s Iranian lawyers made it clear that there was no legal basis for the proceedings, but requests for bail were ignored.
The verdict was not announced until early 2026 and, according to the family, represents the most serious politically motivated imprisonment of British citizens in Iran.
Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir claimed last year that the Foremans had entered Iran under the guise of tourists and had been gathering information prior to their arrest.
Detention conditions in Evin cause concern
Lindsay Foreman is currently being held in the women’s section of Evin Prison in Tehran, while Craig Foreman is being held in the political wing of the prison. Evin Prison has long been criticized by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, for its inhumane detention conditions.
The family reports cramped cells, inadequate food, and poor access to legal representation. According to their son Joe Bennett, the Foremans are surrounded by “filth, vermin, and violence” and have lost weight. For months, they have had no access to basic necessities such as a change of clothes or adequate food. When transferred between facilities, they were blindfolded and had their hands tied. Long periods in solitary confinement and only a handful of phone calls home have been the reality of the past 13 months.
Bennett said after the verdict was announced: “My parents have now been sentenced to 10 years following a trial that lasted just three hours and in which they were not allowed to present any defense.” The family is deeply concerned about the well-being of both of them.
British government condemns the verdict
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the verdict as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable.” She stated: “We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family.” However, the family describes itself as having been abandoned by the government. Letters to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have remained unanswered. Bennett said he was “sick with worry.”
However, the family describes itself as having been abandoned by the government. Letters to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have gone unanswered. Bennett said he was “sick with worry.” In January 2026, 45 members of the House of Commons and members of the House of Lords signed a cross-party letter calling on the Foreign Secretary to take further action on the case.
On the anniversary of their detention, the family submitted a petition to Downing Street, which now has almost 64,000 signatures. The relatives are calling for direct involvement by the British government and the use of all available diplomatic means to bring the couple home.
Motorcycle travelers caught in the crossfire of geopolitics
Bennett described his mother and stepfather as victims of geopolitical tensions. They were “caught in the middle” of the difficult relations between Tehran and Western countries, especially the US, as well as the tense British-Iranian relations.
The Foremans’ case follows a familiar pattern. In recent years, Iran has detained dozens of dual nationals and foreign residents, usually on charges of endangering national security or espionage. At least 15 of those detained had ties to the UK. Human rights organizations often see such cases as diplomatic leverage.
In 2022, British-Iranian citizens Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were released after the UK settled a long-standing debt of £650 million (approximately €767 million / $878 million) with Iran. French and German citizens were also released after sustained diplomatic pressure from their respective governments.
The British Foreign Office has long advised against all travel to Iran, warning that British citizens are at risk of arbitrary detention simply because of their connections to the UK. For motorcycle travelers, for whom Iran has always been a popular destination due to its landscape, the Foremans’ case sends a clear warning signal.
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