Son of imprisoned couple in Tehran issues desperate plea to Keir Starmer: 'Have a backbone!'

Mr and Mrs Foreman were detained in Iran in January 2025 during their motorcycle trip around the world.

They were then sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage charges last year, which they deny.

Admitting the situation was "already difficult" for him and his family to deal with, the "complexities of war" have now made him "genuinely scared" for his parents' lives.

He told GB News: "We are now generally worried for their lives because of what's going on, and the implications of the actions that are being taken by the US and Israel.

"I think they're bearing up, but it's a tough gig for them mentally, physically, and spiritually because the system is made to break people, that is what it is intended to do."

Noting the "one good thing" the Government has done to help his family make contact with his parents, Mr Bennett revealed that they are able to speak to them through the prison's phone.

He recalled: "I was on the phone to my mum last week when the bombs started to hit, and I've never heard panic like it. The phone line cut out, and for the three or four hours in between the next call, I was completely numb, I couldn't move.

"It's one thing that we are eternally grateful for at the moment because they are able to call direct from the prison phone. And I have to admit, it's the one good thing over the last 15 months that the Government has put in place.

"There's not much else that I can give a positive outlook on, but that is one of them because it's massive for us at the moment as a family, to be able to hear their voices."

Questioned by host Andrew Pierce on what led to their arrest, Mr Bennett simply concluded that they were in the "wrong place at the wrong time", as they had "every legislation in place that had to be adhered to".

Detailing the "unsanitary conditions" of which his parents are facing in Iran's Evin prison, Mr Bennett told GB News that they are only allowed to see each other "once a week" and are placed in cells with around "18 other people", with "metal bunk beds and no mattresses".

He said: "It's unsanitary to say the least. Craig says there's four holes in the ground for 180 men. You have to buy toilet roll and things from the shop, which is not always replenished, so it's pretty horrendous conditions.

"They're held together with about 18 people in each cell. There's people on the floor, there's people in the hallways, it's at capacity and above and beyond now because of what's happened."

Questioned on whether the Government are "actively trying" to get his parents released, Mr Bennett criticised Sir Keir's inaction in negotiating with Iran.

He said: "The only good thing that has come from the Government from in my eyes is this phone call. We haven't seen, even though they've withdrew embassy staff from Tehran, we've not seen any contingency plans.

"There's no proof, there's no signs of progression that I can see. My assumption is that they're doing nothing, and realistically, will I be happy with what they do until they're home? Probably not."

Urging Sir Keir to step up his intervention and help his parents return home, he concluded: "There has to be a change.

"With the new Ayatollah that's been announced, if Keir Starmer had some cojones and a bit of a backbone, he'd be on the phone to him and say, look, why don't you try and do some good - you've taken over, release the prisoners. Let's start to draw a line in the sand."