British couple detained in Iran still lacking regular family contact, family says

A British couple detained in Iran for more than 20 months have still not had regular contact restored with their family, according to relatives who say earlier assurances have not been followed through. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who are from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges they deny. Their family says the lack of consistent calls remains a serious concern after months of uncertainty.

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The family says the couple were promised renewed contact after ending hunger strikes earlier this year, but regular calls have not resumed. The hunger strikes lasted 93 days and 84 days respectively, after the pair said prison authorities had begun preventing them from speaking to relatives. A British consular visit is planned for 5 October, which the family says would be only the second such visit of 2026.

The family is now pressing for an urgent meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to discuss what more can be done. It is also calling for regular consular visits and a focused strategy aimed at securing the couple's release. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says the pair's welfare is its top priority and that officials have been working to provide assistance, including an ambassadorial prison visit and facilitating calls with family in the UK.

The case has become part of a wider diplomatic and consular challenge for the UK, which has repeatedly faced pressure over citizens detained abroad. The family says the delay in arranging the next visit, especially after the hunger strikes, is extremely concerning. The issue also raises questions about how much access foreign detainees can expect when relations between governments are strained and legal proceedings are contested.

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The family met Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty and the UK's envoy for complex consular detentions, Alistair Burt, in August. According to the family, the couple ended their hunger strikes believing conditions would improve, including the restoration of regular calls. Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son, said he expected the government to keep pressing when commitments are made and then not honoured.

What remains unclear is whether the planned October visit will lead to any broader change in access or progress toward release. The family says it wants more frequent consular contact and a clearer government strategy, while officials have not set out any public timetable for further steps. For now, the case continues to hinge on whether promised contact can be restored and whether diplomatic pressure can alter the couple's situation.

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