The UK government has sharply criticised Iran after a British couple were handed 10-year prison sentences on espionage charges, describing the punishment as

“totally unjustifiable” and pledging to keep up pressure for their release.

Speaking on Thursday, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said London would continue to pursue the case of Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman with the authorities in Iran until the couple are safely returned home.

“We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family,” Cooper said in a statement.

Iranian officials have accused the couple of gathering information in several parts of the country, allegations the family strongly denies. According to relatives, the Foremans appeared before a court in October last year for a trial that lasted just three hours and were not permitted to mount a defence.

Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman’s son, said there was no evidence to support the espionage claims and voiced deep concern about the couple’s wellbeing in detention. He also criticised what he described as a lack of transparency in Iran’s judicial process.

The case adds to longstanding tensions between London and Tehran over the treatment of foreign nationals held in Iran, with the UK reiterating calls for due process and the immediate release of its citizens. Photo by Sasan Geranmehr, Wikimedia commons.