TEHRAN, Iran — Authorities in Iran have charged a British couple, who have been in custody since January, with espionage, according to recent reports from state media.

A judicial spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, disclosed that the couple was apprehended by the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guard while they were in Kerman, a city in southern Iran.

The allegations against the pair include espionage and maintaining connections with intelligence agencies from “hostile nations,” as well as gathering information from various regions within Iran. However, Jahangir did not disclose more specifics regarding the case.

While the couple’s names were not initially revealed in the reports, a statement from their family shared through the U.K. Foreign Office identified them as Craig and Lindsay Foreman. The family noted that the couple’s predicament has been distressing and has generated “significant concern.”

A representative from the U.K. Foreign Office expressed deep apprehension about the espionage charges levied against the British nationals in Iran, affirming that they continue to engage directly with Iranian authorities regarding the matter.

The couple was reportedly on a global motorcycle trip when their detention occurred. British media outlets have noted that social media updates indicated they had crossed from Armenia into Iran on December 30 and were on their way to Pakistan next.

On Wednesday, the British ambassador to Iran, Hugo Shorter, visited the couple in Kerman, accompanied by officials from the Iranian justice department and the governor’s office.

Iran has a historical pattern of detaining and then releasing Western citizens on various security charges. Observers have often criticized the country for allegedly using Western detainees as leverage in diplomatic negotiations with Western powers, although Iran has consistently denied such claims.