Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria and VWP countries will no longer be allowed to travel to the US visa-free, under new anti-terrorism measures.

Dual degree programmes and short-term study abroad are two areas of potential collaboration for universities in the US and Iran, now that diplomatic relations are beginning to thaw, according to a white paper published by the US-based IIE.

The Institute of International Education led a delegation of senior US higher education representatives to Iran last month to meet with counterparts from 13 Iranian institutions.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the country’s higher education institutions to open up to more foreign students and staff, as well as giving a ringing endorsement for study abroad, in a nationally televised speech marking the beginning of the academic year.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) giant Coursera has lifted restrictions to students in Iran put in place earlier this year in compliance with US export control regulations. The restrictions on provision in Iran, Cuba, Syria and Sudan came into force when the US government released "a clearer interpretation" of how export control regulations relate to MOOCs.

Iranians studying around the world are struggling to support themselves financially after the Iranian currency collapsed last month, due to the accumulative effect of foreign sanctions. Students must also pay up to three times what they used to and there are reports that some of the 35,000 Iranian students overseas are returning home...

Iranian students have been left in the lurch after the Canadian government closed its embassy in Tehran and the Iranian embassy in Ottawa last Friday. Many Iranian students fear they will be unable to obtain or renew their student visas with just weeks until the start of term.