Family expresses concern over British nationals detained in Iran

The family of two British nationals detained in Iran has expressed their concern and confirmed they are working with relevant authorities to ensure the safe return of their loved ones who were on a round-the-world motorbike trip.

Iranian authorities detained two British nationals in the southern city of Kerman on unspecified security charges, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported Wednesday.

The family of the two, in a Saturday statement released by the British Foreign Office, named them as Craig and Lindsay Foreman.

The couple, in their early 50s, had been on a motorbike trip across the world and had only planned on being in Iran for five days.

British media reports indicate that the couple were heading for Australia, having crossed into Iran from Armenia on December 30, according to social media posts.

Lindsay Foreman was carrying out a research project as part of the journey, asking people what constitutes a good life.

The Foreman family acknowledged their detentions and emphasized the distress caused by the incident.

"This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time," the family said.

They also highlighted their active engagement with the British government and other relevant authorities, saying they are "united in our determination to secure their safe return."

British Ambassador Hugo Shorter met with the two detainees at the local prosecutor’s office in Kerman, IRNA reported Wednesday.

The timeline of the detentions remains unclear.

The incident occurs amidst a broader context where Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals in recent years, predominantly on espionage and security-related charges.

Human rights groups and several Western nations have accused Iran of using such arrests to extract concessions from other countries, though Tehran has consistently denied that these detentions are politically motivated.