ETS Suspends TOEFL and GRE Testing in Iran
ETS has suspended TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran after an OFAC license change, canceling appointments and setting a September 8 score-report deadline.
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ETS has suspended TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran with immediate effect after the US Treasury Department withdrew an authorization covering certain educational services in the country.
The suspension removes domestic access to two tests widely used in international university admissions. Iranian nationals may still take either exam at available locations outside Iran, subject to registration requirements and appointment availability, according to ETS.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, suspended Iran General License G on August 24. The license had authorized certain academic exchanges and the import or export of educational services involving Iran.
ETS said the license had covered TOEFL and GRE testing and related services in Iran. The organization described the suspension as a regulatory compliance requirement rather than a commercial decision.
All future TOEFL and GRE appointments inside Iran will be canceled. Candidates who paid directly through an ETS account will receive a full refund through their original payment method. ETS said it would contact people who registered using vouchers separately about their available options.
The suspension also affects requests to send scores from previous tests. ETS said candidates located in Iran must order any additional score reports they need by September 8, 2026. After that date, it will be unable to process new score-report requests from test takers in Iran for the time being.
ETS has not announced when testing might resume. It said it is assessing the scope and expected duration of the regulatory change and exploring possible routes to restore its services.
The restriction applies to testing services provided inside Iran rather than to Iranian nationality itself. That distinction differs from the Duolingo English Test restriction, which the company says applies both within Iran and to users presenting Iranian identification. There is no evidence that the two restrictions arose from the same regulatory action.
