The son of a British couple imprisoned in Tehran has appealed directly to Donald Trump for assistance, citing what he describes as a “failure” by the British government to protect his parents amid escalating US strikes on Iran.
Joe Bennett, 31, whose mother and father, Lindsay and Craig Foreman, are both 53, said he is travelling to the United States to lobby for their release, after multiple attempts to engage the UK government yielded no response.
The couple were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on a global motorcycle tour and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Now held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, the Foremans have reportedly endured severe conditions, including separation, solitary confinement, and limited access to legal representation.
Bennett said the situation worsened when British consular staff reportedly failed to notify his parents that they were leaving the country shortly before hostilities between the US and Iran intensified.
“My government has let me down,” Bennett said. “They are British citizens who appear to have been abandoned. They are in real and immediate danger.”
Bennett hopes that appealing directly to Donald Trump, a father himself, may provide a pathway to securing his parents’ safety.
He is scheduled to address the US Capitol in Washington later this week during the Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention, where he intends to raise his parents’ plight in the context of broader international efforts to protect detainees abroad.
Dire Conditions in Tehran Prison
Reports from Bennett describe a deteriorating legal and humanitarian situation inside Evin Prison. “The legal process has effectively collapsed,” a family spokesperson said.
“The Revolutionary Courts that sentenced the couple have themselves reportedly been affected by recent airstrikes. Lindsay and Craig’s state-appointed lawyer has left the country, and the family has no clarity on whether their appeal was even received before court operations shut down.”
According to Bennett, a bomb exploded near the prison on the first day of the US-Iran conflict, shattering windows and causing debris to fall inside. Ms Foreman, speaking to her son by phone, described chaos as female inmates sought cover under metal bunk beds, fearing further strikes.
Bennett emphasized the urgency of his parents’ situation, noting that the US actively elevates cases involving hostages and detainees in high-level diplomatic discussions, a level of advocacy he feels is absent from UK efforts.
“The US is actively bringing their hostages’ names up in all high-level international discussions, and the UK should be doing this for my parents, too,” he said.
Appeals to International Leaders
Bennett’s trip to Washington reflects frustration over repeated, unanswered appeals to UK leadership, including letters to the prime minister and foreign secretary and petitions signed by concerned citizens. He sees engagement with US officials, including Trump, as a necessary step to garner international attention and pressure.
“Donald Trump is a father and he has a family. I am sure he loves them deeply. And that is the reason I appeal to him to help us get them out,” Bennett said.
The Foremans’ case has drawn attention amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, which have included airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure and reports of collateral damage affecting residential areas. Rescuers have been seen working amid rubble in Tehran neighbourhoods, highlighting the wider impact of the conflict.
UK Government Response
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) stated: “The welfare of British nationals detained in Iran is a priority for this government and continues to be during the current situation in the Middle East.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman’s sentences are completely appalling and totally unjustifiable, and we will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime until they are safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family.
We continue to provide consular assistance to them and their family.”
While Bennett welcomed assurances, he stressed that direct advocacy at the international level is critical given the unpredictable and volatile environment inside Iran.
The Human Cost of Escalating Conflict
Observers note that civilians and detainees in Iran face growing risks as US strikes intensify. The collapse of legal processes, combined with heightened military activity, places those held in prisons like Evin at heightened vulnerability. Families of detainees have voiced fears that humanitarian concerns may be overshadowed by broader geopolitical objectives.
Bennett described the emotional toll of witnessing his parents’ suffering from afar. “Every day is a battle,” he said. “Not knowing if they will be safe through another strike or whether they have food, water, or medical care is unbearable.
That’s why I am appealing directly to international leaders who can act.”
He hopes that highlighting the case in a high-profile setting such as the US Capitol conference will mobilize broader support from governments and human rights organizations.
Looking Ahead
Bennett plans to meet with members of Congress, diplomats, and advocacy groups during his US visit, aiming to coordinate international pressure on Iran to secure his parents’ release. He sees this as an opportunity to bring attention not only to his family’s situation but also to other foreign nationals detained under similar circumstances.
“The world needs to know the reality on the ground,” Bennett said. “We cannot allow citizens to be caught in conflict zones without support, and we cannot accept that they are abandoned by their own government in a time of crisis.”
For the Foremans, who had embarked on a journey to explore the world together, the ordeal in Tehran represents a stark reversal of fortune. Bennett’s advocacy seeks to turn international attention into tangible action, with the hope that the couple may one day return safely to the UK.
The ongoing US-Iran confrontation continues to exacerbate the risk for foreign nationals in Iran, making cases like the Foremans’ a focal point for discussions on international protection, consular responsibility, and humanitarian law.
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