Iranian authorities have alleged that a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have been detained since January, are involved in espionage activities. The Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence unit arrested them in Kerman while they were reportedly travelling the world on motorbikes. According to Asghar Jahangir, a judiciary spokesman, the couple is accused of collecting information across several Iranian provinces and maintaining connections with the intelligence agencies of “hostile countries.” The couple’s family expressed significant concern for their safety and well-being, emphasising their commitment to ensuring their return.
The situation arose after the Foremans, who entered Iran from Armenia intending to travel to Pakistan and eventually to Australia, were taken into custody. British officials have been actively involved, with the ambassador to Iran recently meeting the couple in Kerman alongside Iranian justice department representatives. Historically, Iran has faced criticism for detaining Western nationals on security charges, with accusations of using such individuals as leverage in negotiations. Iran, however, denies these claims. The case brings to mind the detention of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was imprisoned for years before her release in 2022 amidst similar accusations.