Iran Loses Access to Major English Proficiency Exams
IDP Education halted IELTS in Iran and a US license suspension cut off TOEFL and GRE testing for Iranians.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Language Learning
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IDP Education stopped offering the IELTS English-proficiency test in Iran in late December 2025, citing financial and regulatory problems. Separately, Washington suspended a sanctions license in late August that had allowed American educational providers to serve people in Iran since 2014, cutting off the TOEFL and GRE exams.
Why it matters
Iranians seeking to study or work abroad often need these English scores, so losing access to the tests affects educational and professional mobility. Because ETS cannot process registrations or payments for anyone living in Iran, residents must travel to neighboring countries to sit the exams.
The US sanctions license allowing American educational providers to serve Iran dates to 2014 and was suspended in late August. The suspension cut off TOEFL and GRE exams, while IELTS was halted in late December 2025, and no replacement arrangement has been stated.
The players
IDP Education
An Australian education services company that jointly administers the IELTS English-proficiency test with the British Council.
British Council
The United Kingdom's international cultural relations organization, which co-administers the IELTS test and sets its eligibility rules.
ETS
The Educational Testing Service, the US nonprofit that administers the TOEFL and GRE exams.
The details
British Council rules bar Iran residents from taking IELTS in Turkey or Armenia, and only people with legal residency outside Iran are eligible. Access to Duolingo's English test has also been restricted in Iran, leaving few domestic options for certified English testing.
Timeline
2014: US sanctions license allowing American educational providers to serve Iran began.
Late August: Washington suspended the sanctions license, cutting off TOEFL and GRE.
Late December 2025: IDP Education stopped offering IELTS in Iran.
Culture Shift
The loss of English testing in Iran reflects how US sanctions licensing, first granted in 2014, can shape everyday access to education and credentials. Iranians facing these restrictions increasingly look to neighboring countries for the certifications that global study and work require.
Iranian students and professionals seeking English certification will need to travel to a country where testing is still permitted and confirm eligibility with the test provider before booking. Those planning study or work abroad should check whether alternative English tests are accepted by their target institution.
The takeaway
Access to standardized English testing can hinge on sanctions decisions made far from the classroom, so applicants should track licensing changes that affect the tests they need. Confirming eligibility early can prevent lost time and fees.
Further reading
For more on how learners prepare for these exams, see the Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cardiff Star.
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