A British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, have been detained in Iran and charged with espionage, according to Iran’s judiciary. The pair, both in their early 50s, were arrested while on a round-the-world motorbike trip, with Iranian authorities alleging they gathered information in various locations.
The couple crossed into Iran from Armenia on December 30 for a planned five-day visit, according to their social media posts. They last shared an update from Isfahan on January 3, where they described Iran as a “wonderful place.” Reports suggest they were arrested shortly afterward and are now being held in Kerman, a city in southern Iran.
Espionage Charges Amid Rising Tensions Between Iran and the West
Their detention comes at a politically sensitive time, coinciding with Seyyed Ali Mousavi taking up his post as Iran’s new ambassador to the UK. Diplomatic relations remain strained following US-imposed economic sanctions on Iran, which have put pressure on the UK and European governments to distance themselves from the country.
Iran has a history of detaining foreign and dual nationals, often accusing them of espionage. Since 2010, at least 66 individuals have been arrested in what Human Rights Watch describes as “politically motivated detentions”. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, Iran arrested at least 40 foreign nationals amid widespread protests.
Concerns Grow Over British Detainees in Iran
The Foreman family has expressed deep concern over the couple’s “distressing situation,” as UK officials face increasing pressure to intervene. The Foreign Office has not yet commented on the case but previously warned British nationals against all travel to Iran, citing the high risk of arrest, detention, and questioning.
The couple’s detention follows the high-profile case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national who was imprisoned in Iran for five years on espionage charges before being released in 2022. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was also detained in Kerman following her arrest, raising further concerns about the Foremans’ fate.
On Sunday, Richard Ratcliffe, Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband, urged UK ministers to act swiftly, warning that the Foremans could soon face a show trial designed to pressure the British government.
UK-Iran Relations Under Scrutiny
Last week, Iranian state media published images of the UK ambassador to Iran, Hugo Shorter, meeting with two unnamed British nationals in Kerman’s general and revolutionary prosecutor’s office. The photo, which showed their faces blurred, has fueled speculation that more UK citizens are being held.
With diplomatic tensions rising, pressure is mounting on the UK government to secure the release of Craig and Lindsay Foreman before they become the latest victims of Iran’s pattern of detaining foreign nationals for political leverage.
