Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Iran Monitor ("we", "our", "us") operates the website iranmonitor.online. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you visit our site. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices. By using Iran Monitor, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Iran Monitor is designed with privacy in mind. We collect minimal data directly:

• Newsletter Subscription: If you subscribe to our intelligence reports, we collect your email address and language preference. This data is stored securely and used solely for sending reports.
• Donation Information: If you choose to donate, your email may be collected for receipt delivery. Payment processing is handled by third-party services (PayPal/Stripe) — we do not store credit card information.
• Page View Counter: We maintain an anonymous aggregate counter of total page views. This does not track individual users or sessions.
• Admin Accounts: Admin users authenticate via the platform's built-in authentication system. Login credentials are managed securely by our hosting provider.

3. Third-Party Services & Advertising

We use the following third-party services that may independently collect data. In particular, third parties — including Google — may place and read cookies on your browser, or use web beacons to collect information, as a result of ad serving on this website:

• Google AdSense: Displays advertisements on our site. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site or other websites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.
• Base44 Platform: Our hosting and backend infrastructure provider. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.
• NASA FIRMS: We fetch publicly available satellite data. No user data is shared with NASA.
• News & Data APIs: We aggregate data from NewsData.io, SerpApi, and other public APIs. No user information is shared with these services.

• How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps →
• Google Ads Settings — Opt out of personalized ads →
• Network Advertising Initiative — Opt out →
• Google Privacy Policy →

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our site uses cookies in the following ways:

• Essential Cookies: Used for authentication and basic site functionality.
• Advertising Cookies: Google AdSense may place cookies to serve relevant advertisements. These are governed by Google's cookie policies.
• Preference Cookies: We store your language preference and display settings in your browser's local storage (not cookies).
• We do not use analytics tracking cookies (e.g., Google Analytics). We do not fingerprint browsers or track users across sessions.

5. How We Use Information

The limited information we collect is used exclusively for:

• Sending intelligence reports to newsletter subscribers
• Delivering donation receipts and acknowledgments
• Maintaining an aggregate (non-identifiable) page view counter
• Authenticating administrative users

6. Data Retention & Deletion

Newsletter subscriptions can be cancelled at any time via the unsubscribe link included in every email. Upon unsubscription, your email is marked as inactive in our system. You may request complete deletion of your data by contacting us. We retain aggregate, non-identifiable statistics (such as total page views) indefinitely.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical measures to protect stored data, including secure HTTPS connections, encrypted data storage, and access controls. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. External Links

Iran Monitor links to external data sources, news articles, and reference materials. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external site you visit.

9. International Users & Sanctions Compliance

Iran Monitor is operated from Israel and is accessible worldwide. By using the site, you consent to the transfer and processing of information in Israel. We make reasonable efforts to comply with applicable data protection regulations. This website is not operated from, for, or on behalf of any sanctioned country or territory. It is an independent journalistic and research platform that analyzes publicly available information. The platform complies with applicable U.S. and international sanctions regulations, including OFAC sanctions. Access from sanctioned regions is not intended or supported.

10. Children's Privacy

Iran Monitor is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the European Economic Area). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us for immediate removal.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of Iran Monitor after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage you to review this page regularly.

12. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of your data
• Opt out of marketing communications (via unsubscribe link)
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us: