US sanctions halt TOEFL and GRE tests in Iran, disrupting study plans
Students in Iran can no longer take TOEFL and GRE exams after a US sanctions exemption was suspended. Applicants say the move threatens university deadlines and adds costly travel obligations.
TOEFL and GRE exams have been paused in Iran due to revised US sanctions regulations. This has significantly impacted students planning to study abroad, disrupting their carefully laid-out study plans. The US-based organization ETS, which administers these exams, announced the suspension after the OFAC froze General License G, which previously allowed educational services in Iran to proceed.
Iranian nationals can still take the exams outside the country, and ETS is exploring options to restore testing. The suspension has particularly affected students with impending university and scholarship deadlines who have invested months in preparation. Many have had to arrange alternative testing methods, such as traveling to countries like Turkey or Armenia to take IELTS tests, which now have their own challenges.
The suspension has created uncertainty and financial strain for students, potentially jeopardizing their academic futures. Iranian students are urging ETS and OFAC to restore access to these exams, arguing that sanctions aimed at the Iranian government should not impede educational opportunities for ordinary citizens.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
