02/19/2026, 09:1502/19/2026, 09:15
A British couple has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Iran, according to their family.
The man and woman were arrested on suspicion of espionage a year ago while on a motorcycle trip through the country. The verdict now handed down is “completely unjustified,” said British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, according to the PA news agency.
The tourists are accused of having connections to Western secret services. (symbol image)Image: keystone
The case will be pursued tirelessly by the Iranian government until the couple return safely to the UK, the minister said. The woman’s son told ITV News that the family had been informed of the verdict last week. The trial only lasted three hours and the couple was not allowed to present a defense. The two had always denied the allegations.
Iran’s judiciary had accused the tourists of collaborating with organizations that are said to have connections to Western secret services. No evidence was provided for this. Accusations of espionage in Iran usually result in years of imprisonment – in extreme cases, even a death sentence. (sda/dpa)