According to a report by the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary on Tuesday, two British citizens who were detained in Iran are now facing charges of espionage for allegedly gathering information in various regions of the country.
The individuals in question have been identified as Craig and Lindsay Foreman. In a statement released by their family on Saturday, it was mentioned that they are in communication with the relevant authorities in order to ensure the safety and return of the couple.
Mizan stated, “The detained individuals came to Iran under the guise of tourists and gathered information in multiple provinces.” However, no further specifics were provided by the agency. British media outlets have reported that the two individuals are married.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman are pictured on motorbikes in Iran before they were detained and later charged with espionage. (Reuters / Lindsay Foreman)
Mizan cited a judicial official as saying the two were connected to intelligence services and that investigations into the alleged links were ongoing.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday that it was deeply concerned by the reports, and that it continued to raise the case directly with Iranian authorities.
“We are providing them (the two British nationals) with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members,” the Foreign Office added.
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals in recent years, mostly on espionage and security-related charges.
Human rights groups and some Western countries have accused Iran of trying to win concessions from other nations through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up. Tehran denies such accusations.
