U.S. sanctions targeting Iran have led to the cancellation of widely used English proficiency and graduate exams crucial for Iranian students seeking to study abroad, according to students and testing organizations. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), as well as the Duolingo English Test, have suspended testing for Iranian nationals in response to the latest restrictions.

The new measures, announced last week by the Trump administration, removed exemptions previously in place for educational services under General License G, effectively barring Iranian students from taking these exams domestically. ETS confirmed that exams in Iran were canceled but noted that Iranian applicants could still test outside the country. Duolingo also ceased offering its English proficiency test to individuals using Iranian government identification starting Sept. 1, citing compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements.

The expanded sanctions are part of a broader effort to isolate Iran economically amid a severe domestic crisis marked by currency depreciation, fuel shortages, inflation, and rising unemployment. Iranian officials have condemned the sanctions, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stating that the measures demonstrate the United States’ insincerity regarding its concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and that all Iranian citizens are being targeted.

For many Iranian students, the cancellations represent a significant obstacle to their educational and personal aspirations. Shahrazd, a 28-year-old prospective TOEFL test taker who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, described the emotional toll of the cancellations after months of preparation alongside her husband. Both planned to pursue advanced degrees in Europe as a path away from Iran’s authoritarian regime. “Isn’t America known by everyone as the land of dreams? Why is this country taking our dreams away from us?” she said.

Several students emphasized that the sanctions disproportionately affect those most eager to engage with the global community and pursue academic opportunities abroad. Amir, a civil engineer from Mashhad, recounted how successive barriers—including a U.S. travel ban, restrictions on the International English Language Testing System exam, internet blackouts during domestic unrest, and now the suspension of ETS tests—have stymied his efforts to study overseas. “In a way, the Trump administration is helping the Islamic Republic keep us trapped here,” he said.

While some students hope to take their exams in neighboring countries such as Turkey or Armenia, economic hardships make these options unaffordable for many. Mahdiyeh, a 26-year-old graduate student in Tehran, noted that the cost of traveling abroad for an exam could exceed her family’s entire annual food budget. She expressed frustration that sanctions penalize ordinary citizens who have committed no wrongdoing other than being Iranian and doubts that such measures will influence the policies of Iran’s government.

Experts and observers have criticized the sanctions for their broad impact on civilians. Kamran Badaraan, an Iranian author on international affairs, suggested that the measures appear designed to affect ordinary people rather than regime officials, questioning their effectiveness in advancing U.S. goals. Meanwhile, Iranian students and families continue to grapple with the consequences of restricted educational access amid a challenging political and economic environment.