New US Sanctions Target Iranian Education and Language Tests, Leaving Students Facing Uncertainty

When the United States threatened an “economic D-Day” for Iran by introducing a fresh wave of sanctions, President Donald Trump’s administration stated its goal was to cripple the adversary economically. However, many Iranians feel these latest measures target everyday citizens rather than the government and its leadership. Similar to previous economic restrictions imposed by the US and its allies, these new measures disproportionately impact the civilian population, with education emerging as a primary sector taking a heavy blow.

Past sanctions have driven poverty in Iran by causing a currency collapse, resulting in soaring prices for food and medicine. Iranians have also faced financial isolation due to blocked bank transfers and digital exclusion stemming from restricted software, cloud services, and platforms. Furthermore, the US travel ban has shattered countless dreams, compounding domestic pressures from the Iranian government.

As part of “Operation Economic Outcast”, the Trump administration expanded secondary sanctions across five key economic sectors affecting civilian life: aviation, digital assets, gold, shipping, and technology. These additions join a broader list that already includes manufacturing, construction, and financial sectors. Consequently, anyone globally engaging in significant transactions or assisting operations in these sectors risks being designated as a blocked party under US secondary sanctions, potentially causing asset freezes and isolation from global commerce.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also indefinitely suspended education-related general licences that previously allowed limited cooperation between American universities and Iran, including academic exchange programmes and nonprofit education services. Additional suspensions target amateur and professional sports exchanges, conferences, and certain non-commercial personal remittances. A brief wind-down period for existing activities runs until September 8, after which specific OFAC authorisation will be mandatory.

The suspension of education-related permissions has quickly affected young Iranians with no government ties. Educational Testing Service (ETS), the nonprofit organization administering TOEFL and GRE exams required for university admissions globally, paused its testing in Iran and cancelled scheduled appointments. Duolingo took an even stricter approach, banning English language tests for all users holding only an Iranian ID, which affects Iranian passport holders globally. Many students now find themselves scrambling to find alternative testing locations in regional countries like Turkiye or Armenia, incurring additional costs while facing severe distress over their academic futures.