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Khuzestan (ISNA) – The Educational Testing Service (ETS) recently announced on the official registration page for the TOEFL iBT examination that, in compliance with recent changes to regulations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the administration of the TOEFL and GRE examinations in Iran has been suspended. ETS stated that candidates affected by the decision would receive refunds for their examination fees and that individuals with questions regarding the matter could contact the TOEFL department through its official email address.
The decision also prompted a response from Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and Dr. Hossein Simaei Saraf, Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Commenting on the new academic sanctions against Iran and the situation concerning international examinations such as TOEFL, he stated that the National Organization for Educational Testing, which is responsible for administering these examinations, was examining alternative solutions. The Minister of Science also pointed out that several Iranian universities have been subject to sanctions for years, and that articles submitted with an Iranian affiliation are rejected in accord with these sanctions.
In this regard, Dr. Alireza Jalilifar, Professor in the Department of English at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, described the U.S. academic sanctions against Iran as an explicit violation of Article 13 of the United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In an interview with ISNA, he stated that the cancellation of certain international examinations, including the TOEFL and GRE, effectively constitutes a form of sanction against examination candidates and is not a new phenomenon, as similar measures have unfortunately occurred in the past.
He added that, following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Cultural Section of the British Consulate administered the IELTS examination. Subsequently, the United States and Australia also administered a number of other examinations annually under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
The faculty member of the Department of English at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz said: “Unfortunately, in recent days, we have witnessed the cancellation of these examinations for political reasons and motives. The purpose of this action is to further isolate our country academically and exert greater pressure on society.”
Professor Jalilifar explained that, following the imposition of academic sanctions by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the general authorization for providing standardized international testing services—including the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, GRE, and IELTS—to Iranian candidates has been suspended.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz further noted that sanctions targeting the country’s academic community would have varying effects on applicants, students, faculty members, and the nation’s academic diplomacy. He added that, under such circumstances, students seeking to continue their education at prestigious international universities may face difficulties in pursuing their studies or obtaining scholarships and research grants. Moreover, taking these examinations in another country would impose considerable financial costs on candidates, which many applicants would be unable to afford.
Professor Jalilifar emphasized that academic sanctions could also affect the international visibility of domestic academic journals. Given that many reputable Iranian journals have international scholars serving on their editorial boards, restrictions on academic and research interactions could contribute to a disruption in scientific diplomacy and international scholarly engagement.
He stated: “The cancellation of international examinations is only one aspect of the academic sanctions imposed against our country. Another aspect concerns scientific exchanges, in which we have previously witnessed Iranian researchers’ scholarly articles being rejected prior to the peer-review process.”
He further identified the administration of domestic examinations in accordance with international standards as one of the strategies for addressing the recent pressures, stating: “As a short-term solution, individuals can travel to neighboring countries to take international examinations. If they are not admitted to their target university, they can subsequently take other examinations, including the PTE, TOLIMO, and MSRT, as well as international examinations offered in the language of the destination country.”
The Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz noted that, at a broader level and over the long term, further strategies could also be developed, including strengthening and expanding connections among the academic community and universities across the country.
Professor Jalilifar concluded by emphasizing that strengthening and expanding scientific and research laboratories and centers could play an effective role in mitigating the impact of academic sanctions. He added that strengthening scientific collaboration with new partners, including China, Russia, and certain European countries, could also prove beneficial. He stressed the need for faculty members to maintain their academic and scientific connections at the international level.
