The son of a British couple detained in Iran has raised concerns over their welfare following the closure of the British embassy in Tehran amid deadly anti-government protests.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in January and charged with spying while travelling the world. Their son, Joe Bennett, warned on Wednesday that his parents face a “dangerous” situation, citing “overcrowding” in jail due to the regime’s crackdown on protests.
The UK government announced earlier on Wednesday that its embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed and will operate remotely. Thousands of protesters have reportedly been killed, and Iranian officials have signalled that executions lie ahead for detained suspects, though Donald Trump said he has been told “on good authority” these plans have ceased.
Mr Bennett said the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) is still “assessing the situation” of his parents. An FCDO spokesperson said: “We remain deeply concerned that Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been charged with espionage in Iran. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities.”
Mr Bennett last spoke with his parents on Wednesday. He said they described “unsafe” and “frightening” conditions in prison, with “vermin in the kitchen and beds” and “fights that break out pretty much daily”. An application for bail has reportedly been submitted by their legal representatives in Iran.
Mr Bennett accused the government of a lack of support, saying: “I look at other nations – France, for example, US, Italy – when their citizens are put in a similar situation, there’s an advocacy from them at the highest level of government... and the UK haven’t done that.” He said his parents are “two innocent UK citizens” and he wants their “safe return”.
