Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a British couple jailed in Iran on espionage charges, have expressed their fear and frustration in a public statement released via their family.
The couple, who were arrested in January 2025 while on a global motorbike journey, stated that they feel "let down, alone and completely frustrated" and that evidence against them was fabricated by the Iranian authorities.
Speaking from the Evin jail in Tehran, Craig Foreman appealed to the government to state publicly that they are not spies, saying "We are not spies. The charges against us are simply not true."
Response From Authorities
The Foreign Office said the welfare of British nationals continued to be a priority for the government, and that Craig and Lindsay's sentences are "completely appalling and totally unjustifiable".
A statement from the Foreign Office added that they will continue to pursue the case relentlessly with the Iranian regime until the couple is safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family.
Conditions in Prison
The couple is being held in separate cells in "appalling" and deteriorating conditions, according to their son, Joe Bennett, with no medical care and food supplies becoming increasingly scarce.
Bennett also stated that they are sleeping in crowded cells on metal bunks with no mattresses, and that recent explosions from the US-Israeli bombardment have struck close enough to send shockwaves through prison buildings.
Government Criticism
The couple's son, Joe Bennett, expressed frustration with the government's handling of the case, saying that they lack a clear strategy or sense of urgency, and that the UK remains trapped in a wait-and-see approach that has already cost his parents nearly 15 months of their lives.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper met with Mr Bennett to discuss the case, but he expressed frustration afterwards, saying that the government's approach is not assertive enough.
