Lammy admits ‘arrangements can be made’ amid calls for prisoner swap to free British couple locked up in Iran
David Lammy has admitted “arrangements could be made” amid calls for a prisoner swap to free British couple jailed in Iran.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges (which they deny) following a visit to the country 17 months ago. They say the government failed to act on clear signals from Iranian officials that Richard Jan, once described as Britain’s worst stalker, was key to their release.
joint investigation by Independent and Sky News revealed a 15-year campaign by senior Iranian officials to have Jan receive emergency medical care in prison and be repatriated to the country.
Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday, the justice secretary denied the government’s mind was “closed” to trading Jan’s freedom for the Foremans.
“These arrangements can be made,” he said. “It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of this issue as it would undermine our talks with the Iranians. I remember that, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I had detailed talks with Iran and raised this specific issue, so I will not go into detail.
“But of course such arrangements could be made, but the details would not be accurate and from what I have heard I am not sure it is reliable.”
Jan was jailed for at least seven years in 2004 after he launched a campaign of harassment against council staff and mental health teams who tried to divide him. He has now served 23 years in prison, including time in detention, despite the government promising to deport foreign criminals.
However, his health and age made the Iranian government eager to return him home.
Independent It may be revealed that his case was raised six months ago by an Iranian official who was in possession of the Foremans.
It can now also be revealed that Jan’s case formed part of high-level negotiations to free British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years in 2021 and released after the British government paid off a £400 million arms debt to the country.
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said he would “press” the foreign office to pursue a possible deal.
“We need to look at our hostage policy,” he said. “We need to take a serious look at how we deal with these situations so families don’t have to beg on TV and go on hunger strike.”
Mr Ratcliffe had said before Independent There is a “clear connection” between Jan’s case and the Foremans’ arrest.
A government spokesman warned against publishing the Foreman family’s appeal, adding: “There is no truth to the allegations of a potential exchange arrangement and to give credence to these allegations is not only inaccurate but also risks hindering all other efforts this government is currently undertaking to secure the Foremans’ release.”
But, Independent With the full support of his family, Foreman chose to make the couple’s connection to Jan public. The Foreman family called on authorities to fully explore any means that could expedite their release.
