TEHRAN: The TOEFL GRE suspension took effect in Iran after the US Treasury halted a sanctions authorisation covering academic exchanges and certain educational services, testing organisation ETS said.
ETS confirmed that TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran had been paused “effective immediately” following the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s action. The organisation said the move reflected compliance with US sanctions law.
The US Treasury indefinitely suspended General License G on August 24. OFAC said the license had authorised certain academic exchanges and the export or import of educational services involving Iran.
ETS says that affected test-takers will receive refunds. Its current TOEFL website also carries a notice confirming that TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran have stopped due to the OFAC regulatory change.
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The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, measures English proficiency for academic use. The GRE is widely used in admissions to graduate and professional programs.
ETS told news outlets that it was assessing the scope and duration of the change and exploring possible routes to restore testing. It did not provide a timetable for resuming services.
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The organisation also said Iranian nationals could continue taking the tests outside Iran where testing remained available.
General License G had been in place since 2014. Its suspension forms part of wider US sanctions changes announced on August 24.
