Son of British Couple Trapped in Tehran Prison Appeals to Trump After UK Government 'Let Down'
Joe Bennett, the son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran, is travelling to the United States to lobby former President Donald Trump for support, expressing profound disappointment with the British government's response. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53 from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while on a global motorcycle trip and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Parents Caught in Crossfire of US-Israeli Bombardment
The couple is currently held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, which has been caught in the crossfire of recent US-Israeli airstrikes. Mr Bennett claims that British consular staff failed to inform his parents they were leaving Iran just one day before the conflict erupted, leading to a sense of abandonment.
"My government has let me down," Mr Bennett told The Telegraph. "They are British citizens who appear to have been abandoned. They are in real and immediate danger." He added that neither the British prime minister nor the foreign secretary has responded to his letters or a petition pleading for assistance.
Appeal to Trump's Family Values
Ahead of addressing the US Capitol this week at the Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention, Mr Bennett explained his decision to seek Trump's help. "Donald Trump is a father and he has a family. I am sure he loves them deeply. And that is the reason I appeal to him to help us get them out," he stated.
Mr Bennett, 31, emphasised that the United States actively raises hostage cases in high-level international discussions, and he believes the UK should do the same for his parents. He described how a bomb exploded near Evin prison on the first day of the war, shattering windows and causing plaster to rain down, with his mother recounting scenes of mass hysteria as prisoners sought cover.
Legal System Collapse and Government Response
The family spokesperson highlighted the collapse of Iran's legal system, noting that the Revolutionary Courts that sentenced the couple have reportedly been targeted in airstrikes. Lindsay and Craig's state-appointed lawyer has left the country, and there is no clarity on whether their appeal was received before court systems shut down.
In response, an FCDO spokesperson told The Independent: "The welfare of British nationals detained in Iran is a priority for this government and continues to be during the current situation in the Middle East. Craig and Lindsay's sentences are completely appalling and totally unjustifiable, and we will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime until we see them safely returned to the UK." The spokesperson confirmed ongoing consular assistance to the couple and their family.
