British couple jailed in Iran begin new hunger strike, family says

What happened

The BBC reports that Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple detained in Iran since January 2025 on accusations of espionage they deny, have resumed hunger strikes in prison. According to their family, Craig Foreman is 12 days into refusing food following the cutoff of their phone access in early May, while Lindsay Foreman paused but has since resumed her hunger strike.

The central claim remains unconfirmed in the supplied material and should be treated as hearsay until corroborated by another reliable source or a named official. The couple, originally arrested while travelling by motorbike through Iran, were sentenced to 10 years in jail in February 2026. Before contact was severed, they spoke to the BBC from Evin prison, describing their incarceration as an unjust wasting of life and maintaining their innocence.

Their family and supporters, including MPs and the adventure motorbike community, have marked over 500 days of detention with protests and a petition demanding urgent UK government intervention. Lindsay’s son emphasized the urgency, warning the hunger strike risked becoming a 'medical emergency in the making' and demanding direct engagement from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Known from the source

• Lindsay and Craig Foreman are a British couple held in Iran since January 2025.
• They were arrested while passing through Iran on a global motorbike journey.
• They were sentenced to 10 years in jail on espionage charges, which they deny.
• Craig Foreman has been on hunger strike for around 12 days as of early May 2026.
• Lindsay Foreman had paused and then resumed her hunger strike.

What remains unclear

The UK Foreign Office publicly condemns the imprisonment as "appalling and unjustified," with Minister Hamish Falconer calling the pair "innocent tourists" and their detention an "injustice." The case remains a sensitive issue amidst broader UK-Iran diplomatic tensions, with the disrupted communication and hunger strikes raising concerns about the couple’s welfare.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Current health status of Lindsay and Craig Foreman amid hunger strikes. Any recent changes in phone or family contact status. Official UK government or diplomatic updates since the last report.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Middle East. Open the source.