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British couple jailed in Iran: 'We're likely to be here for a long time'
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in Iran in January 2025 on espionage suspicions during a round-the-world motorcycle trip. They faced a 10-year sentence handed down in February 2026 and have intermittently communicated with family via payphones from Evin Prison, amid regional hostilities and limited consular access.
Why It Matters
The case highlights the risks for foreign travelers in Iran, the treatment of prisoners amid regional conflict, and questions about consular support for British nationals abroad.
Timeline
5 Events
First media contact from inside prison
May 1, 2026
Lindsay and Craig Foreman spoke to reporters via separate phones for the first time since their incarceration. The calls were made from Evin prison, with conversations monitored and occasionally dropping.
Sentence handed down: 10-year prison term
February 2026
A 10-year prison sentence was handed down against them in February 2026.
Move to Tehran and transfer to Evin Prison
July 2025
The couple were moved to Tehran in July 2025 and were told they would be freed, only to find themselves in Tehran's Evin prison.
Lindsay Foreman held in solitary confinement in Kerman
January 2025
Lindsay Foreman spent an initial 57 days in detention in solitary confinement in Kerman. Craig Foreman was interrogated while blindfolded during his own time in solitary confinement.
Arrest of Lindsay and Craig Foreman on espionage suspicions
January 2025
Lindsay Foreman and Craig Foreman were arrested in Iran on suspicion of espionage while on a round-the-world motorcycle trip after crossing from Armenia into Iran. They had planned to stay only a few days and were aware of Foreign Office travel advice advising British nationals not to travel to Iran. They deny having committed any offence.