China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that resuming UN sanctions on Iran would harm efforts toward a political and diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue. Beijing continues to call for dialogue and a negotiated settlement.
A British couple detained in Iran since January were “suddenly whisked” into a courtroom in Tehran on Wednesday without prior notice or a lawyer of their choosing, according to a report by Sky News citing their family.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested during a motorcycle world tour and later charged with espionage—allegations they deny. Their son, Joe Bennett, said the couple were assigned a “state-appointed lawyer they only just met.”
“We cannot see how [this] could be considered to be a fair trial,” Bennett said, expressing alarm over the opaque process and lack of transparency.
Concerns grow over health and consular access
Craig Foreman, held at Evin Prison for the past 25 days, has no access to funds or hygiene supplies, according to his son.
The British ambassador had been scheduled to visit Craig, but the family says the meeting didn’t happen—possibly because he had already been taken to court. Meanwhile, Lindsay Foreman was seen by the ambassador and given essential items.
“The lack of transparency only deepens our concern,” said Bennett. “Craig has already lost weight, and now, with no access to food beyond the bare minimum, I can only guess at how he must be.”
Detained and tortured, source tells Iran International
In July, Iran International reported that the couple had been held in solitary confinement for months and subjected to torture by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. A source familiar with the case said they were beaten, deprived of sleep, and threatened with execution during interrogations meant to extract confessions.
Despite these conditions, both have maintained their innocence.
Arrested in January while touring the country
The couple, both in their 50s, entered Iran from Armenia during a world motorcycle trip. They were arrested on January 4 near the city of Kerman and charged with spying. The UK government has denied the charges and repeatedly called for their release.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran,” the Foreign Office has said. “We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.”
Detainees as bargaining chips
Iran has a long history of detaining foreign nationals—often dual citizens—in what rights groups and Western governments view as politically motivated actions aimed at securing diplomatic leverage or concessions.
Tehran has denied that its detentions are political in nature.
Germany has advised its citizens to leave Iran and avoid travel to the country amid growing tensions following Berlin's role in triggering the UN snapback mechanism to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.
In a statement published on Thursday, the German Foreign Ministry cited recent threats by Iranian officials and warned that “it cannot be ruled out that German interests and nationals will be affected by countermeasures in Iran.”
The ministry also noted that the German Embassy in Tehran is currently able to provide only “limited consular assistance.”
Britain, France, and Germany on Thursday formally initiated the 30-day process to restore UN sanctions on Iran, citing violations of the 2015 nuclear deal. The move has heightened the risk of retaliatory measures from Tehran, which has warned of consequences if sanctions are reinstated.
Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has issued a confidential directive to domestic media, instructing outlets to limit coverage of the European move to trigger the UN snapback mechanism and avoid content that could cause public concern or market instability.
The directive, sent to newsroom chiefs and editors, outlines six points aimed at controlling how the issue is reported. It calls on newsrooms to avoid “emotional,” “crisis-oriented,” or “provocative” headlines and urges editors to present the snapback as a manageable development. The stated goal is to preserve “psychological calm” in society.
Media are specifically told to refrain from publishing content that highlights economic risks, such as inflation, currency devaluation, or the potential impact on gold and foreign exchange markets. Such coverage, the ministry warns, could increase inflationary expectations or contribute to public anxiety.
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Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has issued a confidential directive to domestic media, instructing outlets to limit coverage of the European move to trigger the UN snapback mechanism and avoid content that could cause public concern or market instability.
Confidential order restricts tone and content
The directive, sent to newsroom chiefs and editors, outlines six points aimed at controlling how the issue is reported. It calls on newsrooms to avoid “emotional,” “crisis-oriented,” or “provocative” headlines and urges editors to present the snapback as a manageable development. The stated goal is to preserve “psychological calm” in society.
Media are specifically told to refrain from publishing content that highlights economic risks, such as inflation, currency devaluation, or the potential impact on gold and foreign exchange markets. Such coverage, the ministry warns, could increase inflationary expectations or contribute to public anxiety.
Instructions call for emphasis on Iran’s resilience
Instead, the directive advises the use of regional experts and commentary that frames the snapback as a sign of European weakness or dependence on the United States. Media are encouraged to highlight Iran’s ability to withstand sanctions and emphasize the country’s “strength in facing pressure.”
The publication of reports that suggest a negative or uncertain outlook for the future is discouraged. Outlets are instructed to “avoid portraying a bleak future” and to focus instead on narratives of continuity and resistance.
Coverage of Western policy encouraged, not domestic impact
According to the directive, media should shift their focus toward criticizing Western governments and highlighting what it describes as contradictions and internal crises in Europe and the US.
The guidance advises against reporting that could fuel debate over the domestic implications of renewed UN sanctions or revive concerns over Iran’s access to oil revenues and currency reserves. No timeline was provided for how long these restrictions should remain in place.
Recent economic reporting limited after new warnings
The directive follows recent domestic reports warning that snapback sanctions could worsen inflation and further weaken the rial. Earlier this week, the Tehran Chamber of Commerce projected that the dollar could reach 1.65 million rials under pessimistic scenarios. That report was later downplayed under apparent pressure from security agencies.
As Iran International exclusively reported, members of the chamber’s international affairs team were questioned this week by the IRGC’s intelligence unit over the economic forecast, and senior officials were instructed not to speak publicly about it.
The Ministry of Culture has not officially commented on the new guidelines. Iranian state media and major news agencies have so far reported the snapback process using neutral language and limited economic analysis.
Part of broader restrictions on public discourse
The new instructions come amid heightened sensitivity within Iranian institutions over public reaction to international developments. The approach reflects a broader pattern of preemptive media control during major diplomatic or economic events.
Iranian media outlets operate under oversight from multiple government agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, the Supreme National Security Council, and intelligence bodies. Directives such as this one are typically circulated in private and not publicly acknowledged.
Abbas Moghtadaei, deputy head of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, dismissed the UN snapback process as a “media and psychological tool” with no real economic impact.
“Almost every kind of sanction possible has already been imposed,” he said on Friday at a provincial meeting in Isfahan. “Snapback adds nothing new.”
Moghtadaei accused Western governments of using the mechanism for political messaging, while Iran, he said, has consistently met its obligations. “The Iranian people have shown they can withstand propaganda and external pressure,” he added.
