Sanctioning Iran Reaches New Levels

While on the one hand, the U.S. Government Accountability Office is saying we need to ask more questions about the impact of sanctions in Iran, others are evoking United Nation Security Resolutions to impose further sanctions. Take for example the University of Twente in The Netherlands, which announced last month that it will no longer allow Iranian students to study at the university. Below is the full text of the letter from the University Board posted to the university's website on December 18 explaining the decision.

The University of Twente would like to inform all Iranian applicants that unfortunately we will not be able to process your application for study programmes at all levels (Bachelor, Master and PhD degree) until further notice.

Due to the United Nations resolution and a following decision by the Dutch Ministry of Education and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dutch technical universities are requested to write a formal guarantee to Immigration Services (IND) that the Iranian applicant for a visa does not have access to certain specific scientific knowledge.

As this university cannot give this guarantee to the IND, applicants can apply for a visa but will finally not obtain this from Immigration Services.

Current Iranian students at the University of Twente, who already live in the Netherlands and possess a valid residence permit issued by the IND prior and who are preparing to travel across borders for the upcoming holidays should not encounter problems to do so until further notice.

Current Iranian students, who have received a letter from the IND about prolonging their residence permit, can apply without any hesitation. In case you need any help, please contact the Visa Office.

As soon as this decision is revoked the University will post a message and will immediately process pending applications.

Your sincerely,
The University Board.
University of Twente