The son of a British couple detained in Tehran on espionage charges has urged Keir Starmer to make their case a priority during what he described as a “very opportune moment” created by the ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
Joe Bennett said the pause in fighting should be used to press for the release of his parents, Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who are from East Sussex. They were arrested in January last year while on a five-day trip across Iran and have now been held in Evin prison for 15 months.
The call comes as attention turns to broader diplomatic efforts linked to the conflict. Bennett’s appeal places his parents’ detention firmly back in the spotlight, with the family hoping the current moment will prompt renewed pressure from the UK government.
The Foremans’ case has become one of the latest British detention issues to attract public attention amid tensions in the region. According to the source report, they remain in custody in Tehran on espionage charges. No further details of their case were included.
Bennett’s intervention is aimed directly at the prime minister, whom he wants to use the ceasefire period to raise the matter with urgency. His comments reflect the family’s belief that the current geopolitical situation could create an opening for negotiations or diplomatic advocacy.
For now, Lindsay and Craig Foreman remain in Evin prison, where they have been held since their arrest last year. Their detention has now lasted more than a year, and the family is seeking increased political pressure to secure their release.
