The family of a British couple imprisoned in Iran have claimed that contact has been cut off for more than a week, leaving them "gravely concerned" for their wellbeing.
- +Contact with pair held in Iran cut off, family says
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were detained by Iranian authorities on suspicion of espionage in January 2025 while travelling the world, which they deny.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were detained by Iranian authorities on suspicion of espionage in January 2025 while travelling the world, which they deny.
Their family have claimed that the couple's phone access was cut off in early May, allegedly over a media interview they gave that month.
Lindsay's son, Joe Bennett, from Folkestone, Kent, said: "We simply do not know if my mum and Craig are safe."
Bennett added: "Craig told us they might have to stop eating if their calls were taken away."
He added that he had not spoken to his mother for more than a week and that every day of silence "makes it worse".
"We don't know what is happening to them and we are terrified for them," he added.
The couple were on a round-the-world motorcycle trip when they were arrested on suspicion of espionage in January 2025 – charges they deny.
The family said that the couple felt "abandoned" with no other way to make their voices heard.
They said that they were informed that the pair could be placed in solitary confinement and barred from seeing each other, adding that prior to having their communication cut off, Craig Foreman had warned his family that if phone calls were prevented, he and his wife would begin a hunger strike.
The family said that they were unsure if that action had begun.
In November 2025, the couple embarked on a hunger strike to draw attention to their plight.
The family said that ended when they received written assurances that they would be allowed to see each other and contact their family.
Those assurances "have now been broken", the family added.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said Britain's ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London had been working to provide consular assistance, including the ambassador visiting the couple in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the UK.
"The Foreign Secretary last met the family on 17 March. She 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," a spokesperson said.
"We will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the UK."
