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ETS suspends TOEFL and GRE exams in Iran

9/1/2026

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ETS Suspends Exams

Educational Testing Service (ETS) suspended TOEFL and GRE exams in Iran, effective August 31 2026.
The halt follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s August 24 sanctions that revoked General License G, part of a broader package targeting Iran’s digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.
Students must travel to Turkey or Armenia for exams, incurring flight and currency-exchange costs.
A Change.org petition urges OFAC and ETS to restore testing, noting fees already paid.

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ETS Suspends Exams

Educational Testing Service suspended TOEFL and GRE examinations for Iran, effective August 31, 2026.
The National Iranian American Council warned the move signals a U.S. war on Iranians and urged President Donald Trump to restore General License G and 31 CFR § 560.544.
The policy compounds travel bans that already block Iranian students from U.S. study, NIAC said.
The suspension leaves Iranian applicants unable to meet English-proficiency requirements for U.S. university admission.

History

Historical Context

Following the 1979 revolution, the United States added sanctions on Iran, escalating in 1995 when President Bill Clinton issued executive orders banning U.S. investment in Iran’s energy sector and, in 1996, the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act broadened penalties. In February 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revoked General License G, ending Iranian access to TOEFL and GRE exams; that year Treasury seized roughly $500 million in Iranian-linked cryptocurrency.

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ETS Suspends Exams

Educational Testing Service (ETS) suspended TOEFL and GRE exams in Iran, effective August 31 2026.
The halt follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s August 24 sanctions that revoked General License G, part of a broader package targeting Iran’s digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.
Students must travel to Turkey or Armenia for exams, incurring flight and currency-exchange costs.
A Change.org petition urges OFAC and ETS to restore testing, noting fees already paid.

1 / 3