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The family of an East Sussex couple held in Iran has revealed that they have spoken with Lindsay and Craig Foreman for the first time in three months. Both Lindsay and Craig were sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges, which they deny, and they are currently confined in Evin prison. Lindsay’s son, Joe Bennett, described hearing his mother’s voice as “an enormous relief” and urged the UK government to arrange a visit to the couple now that the British embassy in Iran has reopened following a period of closure due to regional security concerns.
Joe Bennett, who lives in Folkestone, shared that the conversation lasted just 12 minutes and was their first official contact since the Foremans ended their hunger strikes. During the call, Lindsay informed him that she and her husband were “slowly rebuilding their strength” after losing significant weight. Bennett stressed the importance of those few minutes, saying, “Just hearing mum’s voice properly again was an enormous relief… after everything that has happened, those 12 minutes meant a great deal.” He also noted that both Lindsay and Craig have remained “mentally resilient” and are determined to return home.
The call was reportedly monitored and required an interpreter, which limited the subjects they could discuss. Bennett is now pressing the UK Government to take “swift action” to facilitate an urgent consular visit and ensure the couple receives proper medical care. He also expressed hope to meet with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to push for all possible diplomatic and legal avenues to be employed in securing the Foremans’ release. The family’s concerns include the lack of a thorough medical assessment following the couple’s hunger strikes.
A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed that British diplomats, including the ambassador to Tehran, have been providing consular assistance since the couple’s arrest. The ambassador even visited them in prison earlier in the year. The spokesperson also mentioned that the Foremans’ family met with Minister of the Middle East Stephen Doughty and consular detention envoy Alistair Burt on 5 August. Minister Doughty emphasized the UK Government’s view that the couple’s imprisonment is unjustified and described the government’s ongoing efforts to seek their release. The Foremans have been detained for more than 18 months, having been arrested in January 2025 while travelling. Their sentences were given in February 2026; notably, Craig Foreman’s sentence was extended by two years in July, reportedly as a result of speaking to the media from his cell. Throughout their detention, their family has repeatedly called for their liberation, including appeals for their inclusion in any US-Iran peace deal or prisoner exchange
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