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. Lindsay Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, said “the dial needs to shift” as he explained the pair “don’t understand the process”. He added: “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.”
The couple were jailed after their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world trip by motorcycle. Their case has now passed to the supreme court, but the family say they do not understand the process or timeline. Craig Foreman is on day 25 of a hunger strike and his wife on day 16 at Tehran’s Evin prison, and 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”. The FCDO said in a statement: “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.”
