Detained British Couple Place Home Phone Calls After Long Stint in Iranian Custody
In a significant development, Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple detained in Iran since January 2025 on espionage charges, made their first phone call home on August 6, 2025, after 213 days in detention.
The approximately eight-minute call brought great relief to their family, with the couple reporting they were mentally strong and being "looked after as well as possible" under difficult conditions. The Foreman family, from East Sussex, UK, have expressed gratitude for this long-awaited communication.
The couple's detention has been a source of concern for the UK government, which has rejected the espionage charges and demanded their immediate release. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is providing consular support and remains in close contact with the Foreman family. The FCDO's dialogue with Iranian authorities is ongoing.
The Foreman family firmly denies the espionage charges against them. Brendan O'Hara, the vice chair of the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs, characterized the Foremans as "innocent victims of a geopolitical power struggle."
During their detainment, the Foreman couple was initially held in solitary confinement and subjected to severe pressure, including beatings, sleep deprivation, threats of execution, and torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. After nearly seven months in custody in Kerman, they were transferred to separate prisons in Tehran: Lindsay to Qarchak Women's Prison and Craig to Greater Tehran Prison (also called Fashafouyeh Central Prison), both known for poor prison conditions.
Family members have expressed concerns about their wellbeing, especially after the couple stopped responding to messages but showed read receipts. The Foreman couple emphasized the dire conditions they are facing in prison, with access only to basic resources.
The Foreman's son, Joe Bennett, heard his mother's voice for the first time in over 200 days during the call. He described the call as emotional, with laughter and tears, and it felt like a weight had been lifted after seven months. Kieran Foreman, another family member, described the calls as a "massive relief" for the family.
The Foreman couple was detained during a global tour and have been charged with espionage, which they deny. The situation is being characterized as a geopolitical power struggle by some. The family continues to hope for a resolution that will secure the release of Lindsay and Craig Foreman. The UK government continues diplomatic efforts for their release.
The Foreman family's continued imprisonment in Iran has sparked debate in the UK's general-news and politics sectors, with Brendan O'Hara, the vice chair of the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs, likening the couple to "innocent victims of a geopolitical power struggle." The UK government's efforts to secure the release of Lindsay and Craig Foreman are ongoing, as diplomatic dialogues between the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and Iranian authorities persist. The FCDO's dialogue is a critical part of the crime-and-justice system's response to the Foreman's unjust detention.
