British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday condemned as "totally unjustifiable" the 10-year sentence given to a British couple in Iran for spying, saying the government would continue to press for their release.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman had been charged with espionage after Iran accused them of gathering information in several parts of the country.
"We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family," Cooper said in a statement.
The Foremans were arrested on January 3 of last year while travelling through Iran on a global motorcycle journey. Iranian state media announced their detention the following month over espionage charges, and they have now been held for more than 13 months.
Joe Bennett, Lindsay's son, said in a separate statement that the couple had appeared at a three-hour trial on October 27, in which they were not allowed to present a defence.
"We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage," he said, adding that the family was deeply concerned about the couple's welfare and the lack of transparency in the judicial process.
Bennett called on the British government to "act decisively and use every available avenue" to secure their release.
The Iranian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentencing.
According to a family statement, the couple have been held for extended periods without being able to communicate. They have had limited or delayed access to legal representation, periods of solitary confinement and delays in receiving funds for basic necessities. They also reported disrupted or cancelled consular visits.
Cooper, whose office did not comment on the disruption, said they would continue to provide consular assistance.
Lindsay Foreman has been held in the women's section of Tehran's Evin Prison, while her husband Craig has been held in its political wing.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has in recent years detained foreign and dual nationals, typically on espionage or national security charges.
Human rights organisations say the authorities use such arrests as leverage in disputes with other countries, a practice they describe as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated detentions. Tehran has rejected those accusations and said the cases involved legitimate security concerns.
Why were the Foremans detained?
The Foremans were arrested in Iran on charges of espionage, accused of collecting information under the guise of research while posing as tourists during their round-the-world motorcycle journey.
The Foremans were reportedly traveling around the world on motorbikes when they were detained in January. They had entered Iran from Armenia on December 30 and planned to leave by January 4 to continue their journey to Australia, The National reported.
Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated that the Foremans were arrested in Kerman Province during coordinated intelligence operations related to espionage charges. "These individuals have been monitored in cooperation with security agencies and have been arrested by the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC in Kerman province," Jahangir said, as reported by Iranian news site Asriran.
Jahangir added that the couple was found to be "cooperating with covert institutions linked to the intelligence services of hostile and Western countries" under the guise of research and investigation activities.
The Iranian judiciary accused the Foremans of gathering information in various locations throughout Iran while posing as tourists, and their links to foreign intelligence services "has been confirmed."
"According to the observations of intelligence and security institutions, the connection of these individuals with several institutions affiliated with intelligence services has been confirmed, and additional investigations are ongoing in this regard," Jahangir said, as quoted by Tasnim News.
The Foremans' family expressed deep concern over their detention. "This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on the family's behalf, according to The National. The family added that they are "united in our determination to secure their safe return," The Sun reported.