Ambassador meets British couple detained in Iran’s Evin prison after months without contact

British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, currently detained in Iran's Evin prison, have had their first consular visit in months after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband raised their case with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi at the UN General Assembly. The Foremans were arrested in early January 2025 and sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage, with the UN describing their detention as a "state hostage taking for political leverage".

British Ambassador Hugo Shorter, who last met the couple on 15 June before embassy staff evacuated Tehran, returned to the country in late August. The couple's children in the UK expressed relief from the latest visit on Monday, as they expect a phone call from their parents on Wednesday. The family claims the visit provided "desperately needed reassurance" and that the prison authorities promised a call following the visit.

Despite the meeting, many issues remain unresolved, including phone contact, consular access, and access to a lawyer. The couple's son, Joe Bennett, urged the UK government to take further action to secure their release, emphasizing the need for immediate action and better treatment in prison.