ByREUTERS

The family of British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are serving a 10-year prison sentence in Iran on espionage charges that they deny, said on Wednesday that a judge had extended Craig Foreman's sentence by two years for speaking to the media.

The couple was arrested in 2025 while traveling through Iran by motorcycle as part of a round-the-world journey. Britain has described their original sentences as "totally unjustifiable."

Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son and the family's spokesperson, said they had received reports that Craig Foreman had been taken before a judge and informed that his sentence had been extended because he had spoken to the media.

"We understand he was told he was being taken to see his lawyer, but was instead brought before a judge and informed of the additional sentence," Bennett said in a statement.

Family and supporters of Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a couple detained in Iran without charge attend a Sing for Freedom, day of action in London on January 3, 2026, to raise national awareness of the couple's ongoing detention and the need for urgent intervention.
Family and supporters of Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a couple detained in Iran without charge attend a Sing for Freedom, day of action in London on January 3, 2026, to raise national awareness of the couple's ongoing detention and the need for urgent intervention. (credit: Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images)

Foreman denied lawyer, translator, son says

He said Craig Foreman had been denied access to a lawyer and a translator and was given no opportunity to defend himself.

A spokesperson for Britain's foreign ministry said in an emailed statement that they were "urgently following up with the Iranian authorities about the reported increased sentence."

Last month, two independent UN experts said the Foremans appeared to have been wrongfully detained and sentenced following proceedings that failed to meet basic fair trial guarantees, while expressing concern over a hunger strike the couple began in May.