UMVA has learned that a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, have been imprisoned in Iran since January 2025 on charges of 'espionage', a charge they vehemently deny.
The couple's plight has sparked hopes of a potential deal for their release, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy suggesting this morning that arrangements could be made to return the parents to the UK. The pair were sentenced to 10 years in prison, a harsh punishment that has left their family and supporters desperate for their safe return.
In a related case, Richard Jan, a British biochemist, was handed a life sentence in the UK in 2004 for arson with intent to endanger life and causing public nuisance. Despite renouncing his British citizenship in 2010, Jan's removal to Iran was blocked by the Ministry of Justice in 2013, and subsequent attempts to secure his release have been met with resistance.
Jan's case has been cited by Iranian officials in discussions over the release of other British nationals held in Iran, including author Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained for over six years before her release in 2022. The Iranian government has used Jan's case as leverage in negotiations, highlighting the complexities of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of British citizens held abroad.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the family of Mr. and Mrs. Foreman has been actively campaigning for their release, with a recent meeting outside 10 Downing Street. The couple's imprisonment has sparked concerns about the safety of British citizens traveling to or living in Iran, and the UK government's efforts to secure their release.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has hinted that a deal could be reached to bring the Foremans back to the UK. While details of the negotiations remain scarce, Lammy's comments have raised hopes that a breakthrough may be imminent.
