Maryam Saeedpour, an Iranian photographer, was selected as the Fine Arts Photographer of the Year for her war-era series titled “Painful Embrace” at the 2026 International Photography Awards, and placed among the finalists for the main prize in the professional category of the competition. The International Photography Awards said in a statement that “Painful Embrace” is “a deeply personal image captured during the war in Tehran, expressing fear, protection, and longing for peace through the simple gesture of an embrace.” Saeedpour said that she spent the days of the war on the rooftop and wanted to “hold Tehran in an embrace” and protect it from harm. She added that she wished for world leaders to embrace one another so that there would be no more war. As the winner of one of the professional categories, Saeedpour will receive a $1,000 prize and will compete for the title of “International Photographer of the Year” and its $10,000 award.