International language exams suspended in Iran due to U.S. sanctions

Major international English language proficiency exams, including TOEFL, GRE, PTE, and Duolingo, have been suspended for candidates residing in Iran. This disruption follows recent changes to U.S. Treasury Department regulations.

Pearson, the provider of the PTE exam, announced that due to the suspension of ‘General License G’ by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), it can no longer schedule or conduct exams for residents in Iran unless they provide proof of primary residence outside the country. General License G, issued in 2014, had previously facilitated certain educational services and academic exchanges between Iran and the United States.

The sudden cancellation has caused significant distress for Iranian students and professionals seeking academic or employment opportunities abroad. Iranian officials and educational organizations have criticized the move, describing it as the ‘politicization of science’ and an infringement on the right to equal access to global educational opportunities.