Alaei received the award for her photo collection, which follows Iranian female football fans, the organizers announced on Thursday.
Enayat Asadi, also from Iran, received the 3rd prize in the Contemporary Issues section of the contest.
Asadi received the award for his single photo Afghan Refugees Waiting to Cross the Iranian Border, which depicts an Afghan refugee, who comforts his companion while waiting for transport across the eastern border of Iran.
Crying Girl on the Border by American photographer John Moore was named World Press Photo of the Year.
The photo shows a crying toddler whose mother is taken into custody by U.S. border officials.
Source: Tehran Times