British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman arrested in Iran for espionage on world motorcycle trip

A British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, was 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.

Britain’s Foreign Office confirmed that it was “providing consular assistance to two British nationals detained in Iran” and is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding Craig and Lindsay Foreman.

Despite official warnings against travel to Iran, Craig and Lindsay Foreman chose to continue their journey. On Instagram, Mrs. Foreman acknowledged that traveling to Iran, against UK Foreign Office advice, was “slightly scary,” Worcester News reported. She wrote, “Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear,” according to The Independent.

The couple stated they were carrying out a research project on what a “good life” means during their journey, asking people what “a good life” means, BBC News reported. In a social media post, Mrs. Foreman said, “Why? Because we believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life.” 

Iranian media published photos of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, with their faces blurred, meeting the British ambassador, Hugo Shorter, in Kerman, southeast Iran, in the presence of officials from Iran’s justice department and the governor’s office, The National reported.

Human rights activists and some Western countries accuse Iran of arresting dual nationals and foreigners, including Europeans, in order to pressure other countries to make concessions, in what has become known as “hostage diplomacy.” Tehran denies these accusations of hostage diplomacy and holding prisoners for concessions, according to The National.

The UK government advises against all travel to Iran due to the risk of “arrest, detention, and the death penalty.” The UK Foreign Office warns that British and British-Iranian dual nationals are “at significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention” in Iran and advises against traveling to the country. The guidance states: “Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.” 

Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned in Iran for six years, urged officials to move faster than they did in her case. “My heart goes out to them, and I hope they are not in for a long ordeal, and that the government is able to respond more promptly than it did in our case,” Ratcliffe said, as reported by The Sun.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual Iranian-British citizen, was detained in Iran between April 2016 and March 2022. She was jailed after being found guilty of planning to topple the Iranian government. Several other Europeans are held in custody in Iran, which has conducted multiple prisoner exchanges with Western governments in recent years.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq