'My parents are scared for their lives in Iran'

The son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran has said his parents are "terrified".

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained by Iranian authorities last January on espionage charges, which have been widely condemned as politically motivated.

Their son Joe Bennett said the East Sussex couple were in "dire" circumstances.

"They are surrounded by dirt, vermin and violence," he added.

It comes after Iranian authorities violently suppressed mass anti-government protests that began in December.

The NGO Iran Human Rights has warned that the final death toll could exceed 25,000 people, while tens of thousands have also been arrested.

A near-total internet blackout has been imposed by Iran's authorities.

"We are genuinely scared for their lives," said Bennett, from Folkestone in Kent.

"The blackouts in Iran have not stopped the violence, they have simply hidden it.

"Executions are continuing despite international protests."

Bennett said the couple felt "abandoned by their own government".

He accused officials of adopting a "wait and see approach" and showing a lack of leadership.

"Inaction has consequences, and my family is living with those consequences every day," he added.

Bennett said he had written to the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Prime Minister Keir Starmer twice - but "neither letter has even been acknowledged".

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment.

It has previously said it was "deeply concerned" by the Foremans' situation and that it continued to raise their case "directly" with Iranian authorities.

The Foremans were detained in Iran while on a once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle trip around the world.

The BBC was previously told they were being held to use as "bargaining chips" between Iran's government and the West.

Bennett said the pair's lawyers in Iran had made it clear there was no legal case against them.

Their bail applications have also been ignored, he continued.

French nationals Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris and Olivier Grondeau were released following "sustained and assertive intervention" by the French government during 2025, according to the family.

German national Nahid Taghavi was also released last year after "consistent advocacy and pressure" by German authorities, they continued.

"The UK could be following the same proactive path."

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