Duolingo suspended its English Test in Iran following new U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) suspended a license. This license previously permitted certain educational services in Iran. The block takes effect on September 1, 2026. It applies to individuals taking the test within Iran. It also applies to those using Iranian government-issued identification, regardless of their location.
The suspension impacts Iranian students. These students rely on the test for admission to international universities. Duolingo stated it complies with U.S. law. The company contacted affected users regarding refunds. It also advised users to complete tests before the deadline. Duolingo will reassess the test's availability if U.S. regulations change. Other testing services, including TOEFL and GRE, also ceased operations in Iran due to the sanctions.