US Indefinitely Revokes Academic Exchange License with Iran; Fate of TOEFL, GRE Unclear
Tehran - BORNA - The move came as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new economic sanctions program against Iran on Monday evening. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also released a document stating that Washington has indefinitely suspended sporting activities and academic exchanges with Iran.
Effective August 24, 2026, following the announcement of the new US sanctions program, General License G—which authorized certain academic exchanges and educational services between US and Iranian academic institutions—was indefinitely revoked.
The measure has raised questions about the status of academic exchanges, admissions services, online courses, and certain examinations related to admission to US universities.
According to the official OFAC statement, activities previously conducted under General License G are no longer authorized as of the suspension date, unless another license or legal exemption applies.
A Relic of the JCPOA Era
General License G can be viewed as a legacy of the Iran nuclear deal era. The license was issued on March 19, 2014, during the nuclear negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The stated purpose of the waiver was to ease sanctions pressure on Iran's academic and civil society and to keep educational diplomacy channels open.
The license was one of the sanctions exceptions under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, allowing accredited US higher education institutions to enter into agreements with Iranian universities for undergraduate and graduate student exchanges. Certain activities related to these agreements, including granting scholarships to Iranian university students for study in the United States, also fell within its scope.
The scope of General License G was not limited to student exchanges. Under the license, US universities could provide services related to receiving and processing admissions applications and collecting application and tuition fees from individuals residing in Iran or Iranians residing abroad.
The license also permitted the recruitment and hiring of faculty members employed at Iranian universities for teaching activities, subject to US visa regulations and requirements.
Another section of the license pertained to online education. Accordingly, individuals residing in Iran and Iranians temporarily residing abroad could enroll in certain undergraduate online courses offered by US universities, including massive open online courses, non-degree courses, and fee-based courses in fields such as the humanities, social sciences, law, and business. Certain introductory courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics were also covered under specific conditions.
The license further allowed students and researchers affiliated with US academic institutions to participate in certain educational courses and non-commercial research at Iranian universities. At higher levels, the scope of such cooperation covered fields including the humanities, social sciences, law, and business.
Other permitted activities under the framework included providing non-profit educational services aimed at combating illiteracy, increasing access to education, and supporting educational system reform projects in Iran. The administration of professional and university entrance examinations—including standardized multiple-choice tests—and the provision of services related to admission to US academic institutions also fell within the license's scope.
Uncertainty Surrounding International Exams
One of the notable sections of General License G concerned professional certification and university entrance examinations. Under the license, US persons were permitted to administer professional certification exams and university entrance exams—including standardized multiple-choice tests—for individuals residing in Iran or those outside Iran whose habitual residence is in Iran, and to provide services necessary for admission to US academic institutions.
The permanent suspension of the license has created ambiguity regarding the administration of tests such as TOEFL and GRE. The license text did not specifically name these exams, and as of this report's writing, no official announcement has been made regarding their discontinuation. However, the administration of these tests may be affected by the suspension of License G.
Cooperation That Was Already Difficult
The permanent suspension of License G comes at a time when Iran's scientific cooperation with foreign universities and researchers was already facing multiple obstacles due to sanctions and international restrictions. These limitations have not been confined to direct academic collaboration. In recent years, Iranian researchers' access to certain scientific resources and specialized information, participation in international academic conferences, transfer of research materials and equipment, payment of publication and registration fees, and even the article publication process have all faced difficulties.
Following the suspension of License G, the key question is how much impact this decision will have on the international connections of Iranian universities and researchers, given that Iran's scientific cooperation with the world was already hampered by financial, banking, administrative, and sanctions-related barriers. The answer to this question remains unclear at present, and the future of Iran's international scientific cooperation is now more uncertain than ever.
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