UN experts demand Iran free British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman from detention
UN independent human rights experts have issued a joint statement demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who were detained in Iran in January 2025. The statement comes as the US-Iran framework deal comes into force. A British Foreign Office spokesman said the case was being followed via diplomatic channels with Tehran.

Independent human rights experts attached to the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres have issued a joint statement demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who were detained in Iran in January 2025. The statement said the Foremans' detention was "without clear basis or legal foundation" and that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was closely following the process.
The couple's lawyer, Mahmoud Behzadi Rad, told the BBC: "My clients have been held for 17 months in Iran's Evin prison; only in the last three months have they been able to gain partial regular visiting rights with their families." British Foreign Office spokeswoman Helena Greaves said: "Our diplomatic discussions with Tehran on consular access and release are continuing."
The statement came as the US-Iran framework deal entered force. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking in Tehran, described the case as an "internal legal matter" and said the UN experts' statement was "politically motivated". Sterling did not move materially against the dollar.
Read next

Iran warns of 'reciprocal action' if US fails to honour MOU commitments
Iran's foreign ministry warned of "reciprocal action" if Washington fails to honour the commitments in the preliminary US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU), Al Jazeera reported. Tehran is seeking clarity from Washington on the timing and scale of sanctions relief. Sunday's technical session in Switzerland is critical.

Israel and Hezbollah continue strikes despite formal ceasefire agreement

Calls for higher New Zealand pension rates grow as cost of living squeezes retirees

Australia confirms first H5N1 bird flu case as virus reaches every continent

Russia frees 24 Filipinos after Marcos speaks with Putin in direct diplomatic call
