British Couple Held in Iran Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, Family Says

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Lizzie DeardenFebruary 19, 2026 at 04:27 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, arrested in Iran in January 2025 while on a motorcycle tour, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges. The family announced the sentencing on Thursday, stating it followed an October 27th hearing where the couple was not permitted to present a defense. The Iranian government accused them of "security crimes," which the family and British government deny. Britain's foreign secretary condemned the sentencing as unjustifiable and pledged to work for their return. The sentencing comes amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program and after Britain imposed sanctions on Iranian officials. Iran has not publicly commented on the case.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States Treasury 30% Abolghassem Salavati 40% Tehran 40% Islamic Revolutionary Court 50% UN 50% Yvette Cooper 60% Britain ×360% British government ×270% Craig Foreman ×380% Lindsay Foreman ×380% Iran ×890%

Keywords

iran 100% prison sentence 90% british couple 90% security crimes 70% espionage charges 70% detention 60% state hostage taking 50% diplomatic leverage 50% united nations 40% sanctions 40%