Brits detained in Iran receive 10-year prison sentence, family says

A British couple in their 50s has been sentenced by an Iranian court, their family says, as concerns grow over the detention of foreign nationals amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. The family alleges the couple is being used as a bargaining chip in wider diplomatic talks.

Detention Details

The couple is being held in separate wings of Tehran’s Evin prison, which has faced long-standing criticism for alleged torture and inhumane conditions. The prison reportedly holds thousands of inmates, including journalists and political prisoners.

According to Bennett, the couple has endured 13 months in “dire” conditions, surrounded by “dirt, vermin, and violence.” He added that they have not been eating and are losing weight.

Lack of Evidence and Legal Basis

Bennett stated that Iranian authorities have presented no evidence of spying against his mother and stepfather. He also said the couple’s lawyers in Iran have made it clear there is no legal basis for a case against them, and bail applications have been ignored.

Government Response and Previous Releases

The family says a judge delivered the sentence at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Bennett has repeatedly pressed the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to help secure their release, stating he feels “abandoned” by the government and that letters to the prime minister and foreign secretary have gone unanswered.

The FCDO has previously said it was “deeply concerned” by the situation and continues to raise the case “directly” with Iranian authorities.

French citizens Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris and Olivier Grondeau, and German national Nahid Taghavi, have all been released from Iranian jails following pressure from their respective governments, their families said.

Negotiations and Potential Deal

The BBC was previously told the couple may be used as bargaining chips between Iran and Western opponents. On Tuesday, Iran said it had found “grounding principles” with the US to resolve disputes over its nuclear programme, following repeated military threats from the US over Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests.

Activists say at least 6,000 people were killed in demonstrations against the government and high living costs, with thousands more deaths under investigation.