The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has suspended key education-related general authorizations under the Iran sanctions program. Effective August 24, 2026, U.S. academic institutions are no longer authorized to engage in the following activities without a specific license from OFAC:

• Offer online courses to individuals in Iran.
• Process applications, accept tuition payments, or issue scholarships for individuals in Iran.
• Recruit, hire, or employ in a teaching capacity individuals currently teaching at Iranian universities.
• Facilitate, sponsor, or support the participation of Iran residents in conferences or similar events in the United States or other countries.

Please see Penn’s Guidance on Iran for more information.

As a reminder, a specific license is required to participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars in Iran, even if participating remotely. Please see Penn’s Guidance on Iran for more information.