British couple jailed in Iran lose appeal, family says

A British couple jailed on spying charges in Iran have lost an appeal against their convictions, their family has said.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman were handed a 10-year prison sentence in February after being convicted of espionage, which they both deny.

The pair's family have claimed they were not permitted to attend their appeal hearing and have been left with no other options except for "starving themselves in protest".

They added that Mr Foreman is on day 25 of his hunger strike, and Ms Foreman is on day 16 of hers, adding that all communication between them has been cut off by Iranian authorities.

The couple were jailed following their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during an around-the-world trip by motorcycle.

Ms Foreman's son Joe Bennett said: "My mum Lindsay and step-dad Craig were not permitted to attend their own appeal hearing.

"We don't know if they received a proper account of what was argued on their behalf.

"We know they had been asked to sign documents in Farsi, documents they could not read, and they refused, but we don't know the details of when, or what they were.

"Their case has now passed to the Supreme Court, but we don't understand the process, the timeline, or what, if anything, will be submitted in their name."

An FCDO spokesperson said "We are disappointed by the appeal decision and will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the UK.

"Since their arrest last year, Britain's ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London have been working to provide consular assistance. This includes the ambassador visiting them in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the UK."

Mr Bennett said he met with officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday, but left without "clarity on what pressure is being applied to Tehran".

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He also accused the British government of being responsible for the pair's hunger strike, saying they had "run out of ways to make their own government act".

"The dial needs to shift, and it needs to shift now," he said.

The FCDO warns all British and British-Iranian nationals not to travel to Iran because of a "significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention".

The government has described the couple's 10-year sentences as "completely appalling and totally unjustifiable".

(c) Sky News 2026: British couple jailed in Iran lose appeal, family says