U.S. Sanctions Undermine Student Mobility: Impact of Exams Cancellations on Iran

President Trump’s recent sanctions targeted Iran have resulted in the cancellation of essential English proficiency and graduate examinations, denying students the credentials necessary for study abroad programs.

Organizations responsible for major assessments, including the Educational Testing Service—the operator of the TOEFL—and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)—two of the world’s most common graduate entrance tests—have withdrawn these evaluations from the country.

Additionally, Duolingo English Test has suspended testing for Iranian nationals who cannot establish residency in another country, citing updated regulatory requirements effective September 1.

Those affected describe a deepening sense of dislocation; they argue that the sanctions disproportionately harm those eager to integrate with the global community despite domestic turmoil.

“I feel as though the right to pursue a better life—even the mere right to dream—is now out of reach for me,” shared Shahrzad, a 28-year-old whose TOEFL registration was recently voided. Like other interviewees wary of repercussions, she requested anonymity due to potential retaliation for discussing academic barriers with foreign media.

Spending forty-three nights reviewing materials with her husband nightly, Shahrzad and her partner envisioned a future studying abroad in Europe to escape authority of home-rulers. Shahrzad planned to earn a master’s degree in education, while her husband prepared to continue his studies as a mechanical engineer.

“Isn’t America identified as the ultimate destination for ambition?” she inquired. “Why does this nation systematically remove the aspirations of its citizenry?”

Washington moved swiftly last week to impose broader sanctions, occurring as Iran’s economy grapples with currency depreciation, fuel shortages, surging inflation, and high unemployment. These structural crises compound the precariousness for individuals reliant on international certification.

While prior sanction cycles included protections for academic exchange, the newly enacted measures suspended General License G, effectively restricting educational services for Iranian residents.

An educational testing representative confirmed TOEFL and GRE options were cancelled but asserted active efforts to determine the restoration timeline through available channels.

Similarly, Duolingo authorized the cessation of its exam services pending alignment with new United States measures effective September 1, following eligibility updates for eligible users.

US Treasurer officials did not issue a prompt response to requests for comment.
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Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the policy during a Tuesday conference, suggesting that sanctions reflect misplaced priorities and treating Iranian nationals as indifferent targets.

Within a Telegram discussion circle focused on TOEFL preparation, discouraged students organized outreach efforts demanding the resumption of their previously approved assessments.

These cancellations mark a significant escalation in institutional barriers facing young professionals.

Amir, a civil engineer from Mashhad, explained that existing travel bans prohibited university enrollment in the United States. Attempting alternative routes—such as the International English Language Testing System—led to delays when banking constraints halted operations, forcing Amir to shift focus once more.

Faced with security crackdowns and a national internet blackout, Amir then transitioned to the TOEFL, only to see exam slots vanish after regional hostilities subsided.

Despite having saved financial resources through employment to fund exam fees, students like Mahdiyeh, a 26-year-old doctoral candidate, view the new restrictions as an unbearable barrier.

“The expense for a single trip exceeds my family’s yearly food budget,” Mahdiyeh declared.

Recognizing years of effort to accumulate funds for the TOEFL, Mahdiyeh expressed frustration that diplomatic friction had placed her ambitions out of reach.

She warned that subsequent sanctions would likely leave global academics tainted for compromising Western ideals.

Scholar Kamran Baradaran observed that such broad sanctions risk trapping normal citizens in stagnation rather than pursuing political goals.

“It remains unclear how this action serves the White House’s objectives against Iran,” Baghaei suggested. “Ultimately, ordinary people suffer the heaviest consequences.”

Photographs taken moments before the exam cancellation portrayed personal loss—a frame of Shahrzad surrounded by her books beneath a geographic map symbolized sustained dedication before eventual disappointment.

“We anticipate returning to this scene someday, now that dreams may soon be realized,” she reflected, hoping memory would heal the wounds inflicted by policy failures.

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