An Israeli airstrike ended the life of Iranian visual artist Mansoureh Alikhani in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in June 2025. This occurred amid a wave of air raids carried out by Tel Aviv targeting both military and civilian sites, resulting in extensive human and material losses and provoking widespread international condemnation.

The killing of Alikhani sent shockwaves through cultural and artistic circles inside and outside Iran. She was known for her paintings that reflected Iran’s religious and cultural identity and was one of the country’s most prominent expressionist artists.

In a tragic and exceptional moment, Alikhani was working on a painting inspired by the reality experienced by Iranians, but she passed away before completing it. That unfinished painting has since become a symbol of art cut short.

In the hours following the announcement of her death, Mansoureh Alikhani’s name topped search engines and social media platforms, where artists, activists, and academics mourned her loss, considering it a devastating blow to Iranian culture and art.

The Beginning of the "Israeli Offensive" and Its Consequences

In early June 2025, Tel Aviv launched a series of airstrikes on targets inside Iran, in an escalatory move following mutual accusations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and military activities near the borders.

The attacks sparked angry reactions in Tehran, where the Iranian government vowed retaliation. Many countries and international organizations expressed concern over the possibility of the region sliding into open conflict.

Amid this turbulent situation, the life of Mansoureh Alikhani became one of the painful human losses that encapsulate the tragedy of the offensive in an unfinished painting.