US Sanctions Halt TOEFL and GRE Tests in Iran
· business
Sanctions Strangle Education: The Human Cost of US Policy in Iran
The suspension of TOEFL and GRE testing inside Iran, due to changes in US sanctions regulations, has left thousands of students facing a daunting challenge: getting an education. This latest obstacle for Iranian applicants hoping to study abroad is particularly concerning for those approaching university deadlines who have spent months – or even years – preparing applications, contacting professors, and paying out-of-pocket costs.
The stakes are high because the suspension of these exams threatens not only their academic plans but also their economic prospects. For many Iranians, the chance to earn a degree in a foreign country is often the best hope for securing a better life. The US-based ETS, which administers both exams, has paused testing in Iran “effective immediately,” citing the suspension of General License G by OFAC.
This means that Iranian students can still take the exams outside Iran – if they have the resources to do so. However, those who cannot afford the time or money for travel will face severe consequences. The testing suspension is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader trend of US sanctions targeting Iran’s economy and exports.
Since the war began in late February, these restrictions have had far-reaching impacts on everyday Iranians – from students to small business owners to ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet. The irony here is that while the US claims its sanctions are aimed at the Iranian government, they end up affecting the very people who will be shaping the country’s future.
By restricting access to education, the US is not only undermining Iran’s economic development but also crippling the potential for a more democratic and open society. Students in Iran have launched an online petition urging ETS to restore access to the exams, arguing that students should not lose years of preparation or their chance to pursue higher education because of access restrictions.
This sentiment resonates with Iranians who have been impacted by previous testing disruptions – including IELTS testing suspended due to sanctions-related difficulties transferring money. Bahar, an Iranian applicant preparing for PhD programs, noted that many students had already shifted their focus from the United States to Europe and Australia due to visa difficulties.
The testing suspension has created a new hurdle, forcing applicants to navigate complex logistical challenges just to take an English language test. While ETS claims it is examining possible ways to restore testing in Iran, there is currently no timeline for when this might happen. Until then, students will have to weigh their options – and bear the costs associated with traveling abroad for exams.
For many Iranians, these expenses are a significant burden, particularly given the country’s current economic situation. In the face of this crisis, it remains to be seen what ETS and the US government will do next. Will they find a way to restore testing in Iran? Or will the US continue to tighten its grip on Iranian education? Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: for thousands of students facing uncertainty and displacement, the stakes have never been higher.
Reader Views
- TNThe Newsroom Desk · editorial
The US sanctions regime's latest move is a cruel joke for Iranian students: they can still take TOEFL and GRE exams outside their country, but only if they have the resources to do so. The human cost of this policy is clear – thousands of students facing uncertain futures due to no fault of their own. What's equally disturbing is how US policymakers seem to believe that by strangling Iran's economy, they're targeting the regime, not its people. They're wrong. This shortsighted approach will only stifle Iranian talent and exacerbate a sense of disillusionment among a generation of would-be leaders.
- DHDr. Helen V. · economist
The recent suspension of TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran is a devastating blow to students who've invested years of effort into securing a spot abroad. But what's often overlooked in these discussions is the crippling impact on Iranian universities themselves. As international students flee due to visa restrictions, the loss of tuition revenue is forcing local institutions to slash budgets, leading to faculty layoffs and course cancellations. This trickle-down effect is quietly undermining Iran's higher education sector, exacerbating the very isolation Washington claims it aims to achieve through sanctions.
- MTMarcus T. · small-business owner
This latest development is another example of how US sanctions are strangling Iran's potential for economic growth and social progress. While the suspension of TOEFL and GRE testing may seem like a minor bureaucratic hurdle, the reality is that it will bar thousands of Iranian students from accessing quality education abroad – a right many consider essential to escaping poverty. What's lost in this narrative is how US policy effectively penalizes the most aspirational members of Iranian society: young people with limited means who are fighting for a chance to break out of Iran's stagnant economy and forge their own paths.