Family pushes UK for prisoner swap for Iran‑detained couple

The family of a British couple imprisoned in Iran is urging the UK government to consider a prisoner exchange involving a convicted Iranian stalker, as the couple continues a hunger strike in protest of their detention. Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both 53 from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran on a round-the-world motorcycle trip and were later sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges, which they deny.

Their son, Joe Bennett, has publicly called for authorities to explore deporting Iranian national Richard Jan in exchange for his mother and stepfather. Jan, described in UK media as a prolific stalker, was given a life sentence in 2004 and remains in a maximum-security prison. Bennett stated that Iranian officials have signaled significant interest in Jan’s case during consular discussions, suggesting a potential pathway for his parents’ release. He questioned why this option was not being pursued and asked what alternative solutions the government was considering.

The UK government has firmly rejected the idea of a swap. A government spokesperson said there was no truth whatsoever to claims of a potential exchange arrangement,...