NIAC asks Pearson to restore exam access for Iranians living outside Iran
Applicants abroad report delays and rejections for tests such as PTE Academic after a US sanctions licence was suspended.
On 13 October the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) wrote to Pearson's chief executive, Omar Abbosh, asking the company to reverse restrictions that, according to NIAC, block Iranian nationals living outside Iran from its testing services, including the PTE Academic English exam.
NIAC says the restrictions followed the suspension of US Iran General License G, part of the Trump administration's "Economic D-Day" sanctions campaign against Iran.
NIAC argues the suspension does not require Pearson to refuse services to Iranian nationals who are not ordinarily resident in Iran. It says that even applicants who submitted clear proof of residence abroad have faced delays or unexplained rejections, and it calls the company's approach over-compliance.
Why it matters: English-language tests such as PTE Academic are often required for university admission, work visas and residence applications, so delays can affect study and immigration timelines.
We had not seen a public response from Pearson when this was published. We will update this story if one appears.
What we checked
- The letter, its date and its addressee come from NIAC's own published statement.
Still unclear
- Pearson's position and how many applicants are affected: there is no independent confirmation yet, so this story is labelled "partly verified".
Sources
- NIAC: NIAC Urges Pearson to Restore Testing Access for Iranians (14 October 2026; accessed 17 Oct 2026)