Son of Couple Held in Iran Speaks Out: ‘They’re Not Spies, They’re Mum and Dad’

The son of a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have been detained in Iran since January and charged with espionage, has made an emotional plea for their release. Joe Bennett, their son, expressed his deep distress upon learning of their arrest and has been without direct contact for six months. He adamantly denies the accusations, stating, “I want to be crystal clear, my parents aren’t spies, they’re not political players, they aren’t criminals. They’re Mum and Dad.”

The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) has confirmed that they are providing assistance to the Foreman family and are actively raising the case with Iranian authorities. However, the family feels the current approach is insufficient.

A ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Trip Turned Nightmare

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both 52 and from East Sussex, embarked on what they described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” motorbike adventure, planning to travel from Spain to Australia. Their journey took a devastating turn when they crossed into Iran on December 31st. They were arrested in January and subsequently charged with espionage in February, allegations their family vehemently refutes.

Joe Bennett recounted the moment he learned of their arrest: “I didn’t know what to do or where to turn.” He last spoke to his parents on January 3rd, prior to their detention. Since then, communication has been scarce, with the only update being a “generic letter” from his mother shared among friends and family. Welfare checks by UK embassy officials, the last occurring in May, have provided scant reassurance. “That’s tough when you’re used to hearing someone’s voice every day,” Bennett shared, highlighting the emotional toll of the prolonged silence.

Bennett also revealed the harrowing details of his mother’s living conditions, stating she is “sleeping on a wafer-thin mattress,” which causes significant distress. The family’s primary concern remains the emotional and physical well-being of Craig and Lindsay. Despite the harsh circumstances, Joe noted his parents’ resilience, mentioning they are trying to “keep as fit as possible” by running laps in their cell, a testament to their “mental fortitude.”

Concerns Amidst Regional Conflict and Limited Consular Support

The family experienced heightened anxiety during the recent conflict escalation between Iran and Israel in June. Bennett described this period as “terrifying,” fearing for his parents’ safety. Compounding their fears, the couple was reportedly scheduled for transfer to Tehran’s Evin Prison on June 8th, the same facility that was subsequently bombed by Israel on June 23rd. During this volatile time, UK embassy staff were withdrawn from Tehran, leaving the Foremans without on-the-ground consular support. “They are now left alone, we haven’t got people who can push for their safety and wellbeing,” Bennett stated, underscoring his plea for more urgent action from the Foreign Office.

Current FCDO travel advice strongly discourages travel to Iran, warning that British and British-Iranian dual nationals face a “significant risk” of arrest and detention. The guidance explicitly states that “face-to-face consular assistance will be extremely limited” and the UK government “will not be able to help you if you get into difficulty in Iran.”

Despite these warnings, Joe Bennett emphasized that his parents had followed all official procedures, obtaining the necessary visas, traveling with licensed guides, and adhering to all guidelines. “They followed every guideline in the book they could… that clearly wasn’t enough,” he lamented, suggesting their detention might be a tactic by the Iranian regime to use them as leverage due to their UK passports.

An Iranian judiciary spokesman had previously stated that the couple entered Iran “under the guise of tourists” and were “gathering information.” They claimed the couple was under surveillance and their arrest was part of a “coordinated intelligence operation.” This aligns with a pattern observed in recent years, where Iran has detained numerous dual-nationals, often on national security charges, with many believed to be used as bargaining chips.

Joe Bennett expressed frustration with the FCDO’s “quiet diplomacy” approach, which he feels has been ongoing for too long without clear strategy or tangible results. “We know where we stand and what we want, it’s over to you to make this happen,” he urged, calling for more decisive action to secure his parents’ freedom. The family awaits a breakthrough, hoping for a swift resolution to this deeply distressing ordeal.