Tehran charges detained British couple touring Iran with espionage

Two British nationals detained in Iran have been charged with espionage, the country's authorities have said.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a couple who entered Iran on a round-the-world motorcycling trip, were arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the southern city of Kerman in January.

The pair have now been formally accused of having links to the intelligence services of “hostile countries," according to a judicial spokesperson quoted by the news website Mizanonline.ir.

While the Iranian authorities initially did not name them, the prisoners' family identified them in a statement issued via the UK's Foreign Office.

“This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time," the statement said.

“The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return," it added.

Hugo Shorter, Britain's ambassador to Iran, reportedly met the couple in Kerman on Wednesday in the presence of Iranian officials.

Iran has a history of detaining Western nationals, including Britons, on espionage and security charges. It has long been accused of using prisoners as bargaining chips in international negotiations, an accusation it denies.

In a Facebook post on 30 December 2024, shortly before they entered Iran, the Foremans said that their upcoming journey to Iran and Pakistan would be "slightly scary".

They acknowledged that "having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."

"The UK government advises against all but essential travel to these areas, and the news paints a pretty grim picture," the post read. "But here’s the thing: overlanders and travellers who’ve ventured through these regions speak of nothing but warm hospitality, incredible landscapes, and memories that last a lifetime."

"We want to find out for ourselves."