Iran Extends Craig Foreman's Prison Term by 2 Years Over Media Contact

Q: What did Craig Foreman say to the media from his cell that triggered such a severe punishment from Iran?

Craig Foreman appears to have been punished for publicly declaring his and his wife’s innocence and urging the British government to intervene. According to the additional reporting, from his cell in Tehran’s Evin prison he said: “We are innocent people. We have committed no offence.” He also described their situation in stark terms, saying, “I just feel that we’re wasting our lives in here and rotting away,” and appealed directly to London: “Just take action. Speak out. Get us out. It seems to me we’re sitting here like sitting ducks.” He and Lindsay Foreman also reportedly told the media they felt “abandoned,” believed they were likely to remain imprisoned for a long time, and feared the channels for securing their release were closing. In Iran’s legal and political context, even those remarks could be treated as a national security or anti-state matter, especially because they involved speaking to foreign media from prison while under espionage charges. Reporting indicates the immediate retaliation included cutting off their phone access and banning them from seeing each other, before Craig was later told he had received an additional two-year sentence.

2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15

Craig Foreman has been given 2 extra years on top of his 10-year Iran sentence after authorities accused him of speaking to media from Tehran's Evin prison, his family said.
Joe Bennett said Foreman was taken before a judge without a lawyer, translator or chance to defend himself, in what the family called a secret punishment and rights abuse.
Since May, Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been on hunger strike after prison authorities blocked family calls; HRANA said last week Craig had lost about 16 kg and Lindsay was suffering dizziness and tremors.
The couple were arrested in January 2025 while crossing Iran on a motorcycle trip from Europe to Australia, deny spying charges, and were each sentenced to 10 years in February.
UN experts last month urged Iran to free them over grave due-process irregularities, as their family hopes Britain's new envoy for detained nationals can help secure their release.