Ed Miliband condemned for shaking hands with Iran minister at 'propaganda win' UN meeting as British couple are 'held hostage'

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 06:46 EDT, 25 September 2026 | Updated: 07:40 EDT, 25 September 2026 Ed Miliband has been criticised for shaking hands with Iran's foreign minister as they met in New York.The Foreign Secretary was attacked for holding 'shameful' talks with Abbas Araghchi last night in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband warned his Iranian counterpart that Britain will 'not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil' from groups linked to his country.He also raised the detention of Craig and Lindsay Foreman from East Sussex, who have been in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran since they were arrested during a motorcycle trip through Iran in January 2025.They were sentenced to 10 years' prison in February after being convicted of espionage, charges they both deny.The Foreign Secretary repeated the call for them to be immediately released, 'stressing that their welfare remains a priority for the Government,' the FCDO said. But Tory shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat said: 'The Iranian regime has done nothing to justify any senior British minister meeting their envoys. 'They are murdering protesters, threatening our allies and arming terror groups, including the Houthis. As well as threatening communities in the UK. Shaking hands gives them a credibility they have failed to achieve through violence. The Foreign Secretary was attacked for holding 'shameful' talks with Abbas Araghchi last night in the margins of the UN general Assembly in New York Craig and Lindsay Foreman from East Sussex have been in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran since they were arrested during a motorcycle trip through Iran in January 2025'This is just grandstanding. Iran’s civilian government isn’t even in charge. Today, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is running the country.'Our foreign policy should be about protecting Britain’s interests, not legitimising a regime that has often tried to harm our people, fund terror groups, and destroy the freedoms that keep us safe.'Our government fundamentally misunderstands the challenges we face, using old tactics to fight new threats. Our enemies are organising, so we need to show strength and unity with our allies.'The Foremans lost an appeal against their convictions in June, with Craig being handed an extra two years for speaking to media outlets, according to the family.The Government previously described the couple's 10-year sentences as 'completely appalling and totally unjustifiable'. The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband and Mr Araghchi discussed the war in the Middle East, the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the UK's 'unwavering resolve to combat threats from Iranian-linked groups in UK soil'.In a readout from the meeting, the department said: 'The Foreign Secretary told Araghchi that Iran should choose de-escalation and diplomacy instead of prolonging the war.'He underlined the importance of restoring freedom of navigation and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the impact continued disruption has on global security and economic stability.'The Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK's unwavering resolve to combat threats from Iranian-linked groups in UK soil, including attacks on the British Jewish community.'The Foreign Secretary made clear that Britain will not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil and set out the measures the Government has taken in response.'