Iranians hit by new US sanctions, this time targeting education

Tehran, Iran – As the US threatens an "economic D-Day" against Iran, unveiling a wave of new sanctions targeting Tehran, the administration of President Donald Trump says it seeks to weaken the adversary economically. However, for many Iranians, these latest measures seem to target them directly, rather than the government and its leaders.

Like previous waves of US and allied sanctions on Iran, the latest steps continue to affect ordinary civilians disproportionately. One sector, in particular, is expected to suffer heavily: education.

Earlier sanctions have contributed to the impoverishment of Iranians through currency devaluation, which has sent food and medicine prices soaring. They have also isolated Iranians financially by blocking bank transfers and digitally excluding them via restricted software, cloud services, and platforms. US travel bans, which have treated Iran as a primary target, have also dashed countless dreams.

But the latest steps go further, even as the Iranian government has also increased domestic pressure.

New sanctions on assets, education, and sports

Under the "Economic Outcast Campaign," the Trump administration last week expanded secondary sanctions to five more economic sectors that significantly affect civilian life — aviation, digital assets, gold, shipping, and technology.

These were added to a comprehensive list that already included finance, construction, manufacturing, and many other industries. Anyone worldwide operating in those sectors, engaging in any significant transactions, or supporting anyone operating in them could be deemed blocked under US secondary sanctions.

This can lead to asset freezes and near-isolation from global trade involving the US and much of the world economy. That is why, despite some humanitarian exemptions, the US "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran has for years caused broad impacts on civilian life, including shortages of certain medicines and medical equipment.

Last week, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also indefinitely suspended general licenses related to education, which had allowed limited cooperation between US universities or individuals and Iran, including academic exchange programs and certain non-profit educational services.

The US also indefinitely suspended another general license that permitted services supporting professional and amateur sports activities and exchanges involving Iran.

Another suspension targeted services related to conferences in the US or third countries, while OFAC also suspended permission for certain non-commercial personal remittances to or from people in Iran.

A very brief wind-down period for existing activities in all these sectors was set until September 8, after which activities will require specific OFAC authorization.

Washington also stressed that both Americans and non-Americans anywhere risk sanctions if they deal with Iran or the Persian Gulf Strait Authority and other entities involved in ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Language tests canceled

As part of the latest economic measures, the US has contacted Iran's neighbors to restrict trade, targeted the operations of Egypt's second-largest bank in the UAE, and is considering action against another bank.

The stated goal of the campaign is to cut off all economic lifelines sustaining the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to force them to change behavior.

But the suspension of General License G, which permitted education-related activities, has quietly affected thousands of young Iranians with no connection to the government.

Educational Testing Service (ETS), the non-profit that administers the TOEFL and GRE English exams — which are mandatory for admission to thousands of universities worldwide — this week paused these exams in Iran and canceled previously booked test appointments.

"This step reflects our full compliance with US sanctions law," an ETS spokesperson told Al Jazeera in an email statement, adding that Iranian citizens could take the tests outside Iran.

"We are actively exploring the scope and duration of this change and pursuing all feasible avenues to continue delivering services, allowing learners to continue their academic journeys uninterrupted."

Duolingo, the US ed-tech company offering learning apps and language certifications, went further than ETS by banning all users with only Iranian IDs from taking its English tests starting September 1, meaning those with Iranian passports abroad will also be denied.

"Following a US Treasury action on August 24, Duolingo is required to cease offering the Duolingo English Test to individuals taking the test in Iran or using government-issued Iranian identification. This includes individuals outside Iran who need to use government-issued Iranian identification," the company said in an email statement to Al Jazeera.

"We recognize that changes in test availability can be frustrating for affected test takers. We have reached out directly to those with valid credits to complete the test or receive a refund."

Duolingo said in the statement it was unaware of "whether and when the regulations might change," and would "reassess test availability" if circumstances shift.

In recent days, many Iranians planning to obtain language certifications — whether to leave Iran, join international scholarship and research programs, or seek better jobs — have been taken aback by the latest impact of sanctions.

In a Telegram group for TOEFL aspirants with 25,000 members, users expressing anger, panic, and dejection have been reacting to this week's news and speculating about what may come in the years ahead as the standoff with the US extends beyond six months.

Some simply know they do not want that future in a volatile Iran.

"I've been crying non-stop for two days, but so what? I won't let it derail my plans to go to an English-speaking country or Germany as a fallback. They [my plans] are just delayed," said Faezeh, who said she now must factor in extra costs of traveling to Turkey, Armenia, or other regional countries to sit for exams, while Iran's economy weakens.

Some are now creating petitions and collecting signatures in near-futile efforts to reverse the restrictions, while others are calling on millions of Iranians abroad to raise awareness or boycott Duolingo on app stores.

Regardless of whether people can afford it or overcome the mounting obstacles, many say they are being discriminated against based on their nationality, with no apparent harm to government leaders and institutions.

"Really, who are these sanctions hurting? It feels like they are removing Iranians from the list of accepted human beings," Danial, a young man in Tehran considering leaving Iran for a more stable life, told Al Jazeera.

He noted that the IELTS exam had also been suspended for Iranians inside the country in January, blocking another crucial pathway. He said students seeking academic degrees outside Iran are watching other developments with concern, including some universities in Australia, Norway, and the UK pausing PhD applications, funding, or admissions for Iranians in recent months.

Many Iranians reacting to this week's news online say the latest sanctions impact is particularly shocking because in January, when thousands were killed in nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, the US president said "help is on the way."

The Trump administration has also tried to distinguish between the majority of Iranians and the government, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying in February that he knew of "no other country with a greater difference between the leaders of the country and the people who live there."

"Iran is officially a failed nation. IT'S OVER!" Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday.