Overview
- The Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended education-related general licences, removing permissions that had allowed US universities, testing organizations and nonprofits to provide certain services to Iranians.
- On September 1, major test providers responded: Educational Testing Service paused TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran and cancelled appointments and Duolingo stopped offering its English test to people testing in Iran or using Iranian government IDs.
- OFAC gave a brief wind-down window that runs through September 8 after which any educational, remittance or sports activities with Iran will need individual Treasury authorization.
- Advocacy groups including the National Iranian American Council have urged Treasury and State to reinstate the licences, saying the suspensions sharply limit study-abroad pathways and humanitarian channels for ordinary Iranians.
- The measures force many students to consider costly travel to neighbouring countries for exams, risk cutting remittance and cultural links, and could complicate sports exchanges and other people-to-people contacts with long-term diplomatic and social consequences.