US sanctions suspend English proficiency exams in Iran

Recent US sanctions have led to the suspension of English proficiency exams in Iran, significantly impacting students seeking international education. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the TOEFL exam, stated that testing has been frozen after the US Treasury stopped issuing necessary licenses.

In addition to the TOEFL, Iranian media reports that alternative options such as the PTE English proficiency test and the Duolingo online exam have also been suspended within the country. While ETS suggests that Iranians can travel abroad to take the exams, the cost of travel and new exam fees is prohibitive for many.

The suspension occurs amid severe economic strain in Iran, where the rial has reached record lows against the US dollar and inflation has reached 89 percent. These financial pressures make international testing and travel accessible only to a wealthy minority.