Family say British couple jailed in Iran have lost appeal against convictions

A British couple jailed on spying charges in Iran have lost an appeal against their convictions, their family has said.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both aged 53, were handed 10-year prison sentences in February after being convicted of espionage, which they deny.

The couple’s family, from East Sussex, have claimed they were not permitted to attend their appeal hearing.

They were jailed after their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world trip by motorcycle.

Lindsay Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, said “the dial needs to shift” as he explained the pair “don’t understand the process”.

He said: “My mum, Lindsay, and stepdad, Craig, were not permitted to attend their own appeal hearing.

“We don’t know if they received a proper account of what was argued on their behalf.

“We know they had been asked to sign documents … documents they could not read, and they refused, but we don’t know the details of when, or what they were.

“Their case has now passed to the supreme court, but we don’t understand the process, the timeline, or what, if anything, will be submitted in their name.”

The couple’s family members said Craig Foreman is on day 25 of a hunger strike and his wife is on day 16 of hers at Tehran’s Evin prison, adding that all communication between them has been cut off by Iranian authorities.

Bennett said he met officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday but left without “clarity on what pressure is being applied to Tehran”.

In a statement, the FCDO said: “We are disappointed by the appeal decision and will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the UK.

“Since their arrest last year, Britain’s ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London have been working to provide consular assistance.

“This includes the ambassador visiting them in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the UK.

“Minister Falconer last met the family on 18 May and the foreign secretary on 17 March.

“Both set out to them personally how unjustified and appalling we consider Lindsay and Craig’s incarceration to be, and the action that the UK government is taking to try and secure their release.”

The FCDO warns all British and British-Iranian nationals not to travel to Iran because of a “significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention”.