She speculated: “It might be the callous stockpile that Iran likes to keep of foreign nationals, just like Putin has done in Russia, it could be for a specific leverage they want over the UK, it could be leverage they want over Trump and they think they can get through us, or it may be because Iran is feeling weakened because of the attacks and essential defeat of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in so many places.”.
Ms Kearns, who led the foreign affairs committee’s report into the UK’s response to hostage-taking, called for specific information to be added to the travel advice page for every country on whether there is a high risk of arbitrary detention there, as was advised by her inquiry – “because unfortunately it’s not even countries you would think of where there’s a risk”.
Ms Kearns dismissed Iran’s accusations of espionage “almost completely implausible” and argued the couple have instead been taken hostage to be used for geopolitical leverage by the country, “because what they do is they weaponise people’s passports against them”.
Shadow home office minister issues warning after UK couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman detained in Iran and charged with espionage.
The pair say there were trying to reach Australia for a psychology research project, asking people what constitutes a “good life”, and planned to reach Pakistan by 4 January – whereas Iranian authorities allege they have been “collecting information in different locations in the country”.
