Iran has charged British nationals Craig and Lindsay Foreman with spying, accusing them of gathering intelligence while in the country and having links to foreign intelligence services hostile to the Islamic republic.
“They entered Iran under the guise of tourism and research projects, but collected information in several provinces,” judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told local reporters on Tuesday. “These individuals co-operated with front organisations affiliated with intelligence services of western and hostile countries.”
The couple, who had been travelling on their motorcycles, were arrested in the south-eastern province of Kerman last month. The judiciary on Tuesday confirmed that Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for their arrest.
Videos of them laughing, dancing and enjoying their time in Iran have since gone viral on Iranian social media.
The family of the Foremans, in a statement on Saturday that was released by the Foreign Office, hoped for their “safe return” home.
“This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and wellbeing during this trying time,” it said. “We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities, working diligently to navigate the complexities of this matter.”
The case of the Foremans is the latest in a series of arrests of western and dual nationals in Iran on espionage-related charges. European governments frequently cite these detentions as a key source of tension with Tehran, alongside other disputes including Iran’s nuclear programme and regional policies.
The arrests also come at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the US. Under its “maximum pressure” policy, the administration of US President Donald Trump has reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran and vowed to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Washington has also demanded an end to Tehran’s military activities in the Middle East and restrictions on its ballistic missile programme.
Iran, however, has insisted it will resist US pressure and has ruled out negotiations with the Trump administration.
While Iranian leaders have kept diplomatic channels open with European powers — including the UK, France and Germany, which signed the 2015 nuclear accord — they have expressed frustration over European warnings about reimposing UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities.
It remains unclear whether Tehran views the arrest of the British couple as potential leverage in future negotiations, in which the UK’s role could be significant in influencing US policy.
The case draws comparisons to the high-profile detention of British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was held in Iran for six years on charges of plotting to overthrow the Islamic republic before being released in 2022. Her release coincided with Britain agreeing to unfreeze £400mn in Iranian funds following a decades-long dispute.