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British couple detained in Iran amid embassy shutdown
The son of a British couple held in Iran on espionage charges has voiced growing fears for their safety after the UK closed its Tehran embassy during a violent government crackdown on protests.
Detention details and prison conditions
Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran. Their son, Joe Bennett, told the BBC's Newsnight that overcrowding in the prison has worsened due to the ongoing unrest, with inmates reporting vermin in kitchens and beds.
Bennett, who last spoke to his parents on Wednesday, described the facility as "unsafe and frightening," noting that fights erupt daily and can be heard in the background during calls.
Diplomatic challenges and family frustration
The UK government announced the temporary closure of its Tehran embassy on Wednesday, citing security risks for staff. All consular personnel, including the ambassador, were evacuated.
"We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, which will now operate remotely," a government spokesperson said. Travel advisories have been updated to reflect the change.
Bennett expressed concern that his parents, if released, would have nowhere to turn for safety. "Their plan was to go to the embassy-they saw it as safe ground. Now, where do they go?" he said.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told Bennett it was still "assessing the situation" but has previously raised the couple's case directly with Iranian authorities.
Calls for government intervention
Bennett criticized the UK's response as insufficient compared to other Western nations. "When citizens of France, the US, or Italy face similar situations, their governments advocate at the highest level. The UK hasn't done that," he said.
The family has urged the government to show "a sign of solidarity" with their plight.
SNP MP Brendan O'Hara previously suggested the couple were being used as "bargaining chips" in diplomatic tensions between Iran and the West.
Legal efforts and ongoing protests
The Foremans' Iranian lawyers filed a bail application this week, arguing there is no legal basis for their continued detention. The lawyers stated in a letter to the court that the couple is innocent.
Meanwhile, Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests has killed at least 2,400 people, according to a human rights agency. Bennett emphasized that his parents are "two innocent UK citizens caught in the middle of all this."
"For us, it's about their safety and prompt return home, however that comes," he said.
What's next
The FCDO has not provided a timeline for reopening the embassy or further updates on the Foremans' case. The family continues to await a response to their bail application.
