Iran has hanged three men, including an Afghan, convicted of drug trafficking in the central city of Isfahan, a newspaper reported on Monday.

The Iranian men, identified as Akbar Z., 33, and Hamid Reza H., 28, and the Afghan Shah S., 38, were hanged on Sunday in a prison in Isfahan, hardline newspaper Kayhan said.

An Iranian judicial official ties ropes before a public execution

Iran says the death penalty is essential to maintain public security and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are all punishable by death in the Islamic republic.

Iran also hanged five men at a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz on Aug 7 after they were found guilty of drug trafficking, Fars news agency reported.
Arab Times