World News
Iranians face new educational barriers following US Treasury sanctions suspension
US Treasury action prompts testing groups to cancel exams, affecting Iranian students seeking international opportunities.
The short version
- The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended general licences permitting education-related activities with Iran under 'Operation Economic Outcast.'
- Educational Testing Service paused TOEFL and GRE testing inside Iran, while Duolingo banned its English test for anyone using Iranian government-issued identification globally beginning September 1.
- The restrictions affect Iranian citizens seeking foreign university admission, academic exchanges, or international employment, adding travel and cost burdens to test outside Iran.
- Organizations must wind down existing activities by September 8 or apply for specific authorizations from the US government to resume services.
Key facts
- The US administration expanded secondary sanctions under 'Operation Economic Outcast' across aviation, digital assets, gold, shipping, and technology sectors.[Al Jazeera]
- The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) indefinitely suspended education-related general licences that allowed limited academic cooperation and non-profit educational services involving Iran.[Al Jazeera]
- The Educational Testing Service paused the administration of TOEFL and GRE exams within Iran and cancelled booked appointments to comply with US sanctions law.[Al Jazeera]
- Duolingo stopped offering its English test to individuals in Iran as well as any user presenting an Iranian government-issued ID worldwide starting September 1.[Al Jazeera]
- A wind-down period for pre-existing activities affected by the license suspensions runs through September 8, after which specific OFAC authorization is required.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown whether testing organizations will successfully secure specific OFAC permissions to resume services for Iranian students or how long the policy will remain in place.[Al Jazeera]