Iran hangs 3 drug traffickers: Report

Tehran: Iran has hanged three men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, Fars news agency reported on Monday.
The report identified the men sent to gallows on Sunday as Morteza 40, Qader 32, and Gholam Reza, 38. The latest hangings bring to at least 38 the number of people executed in Iran so far this year, according to a report.

Last year, at least 270 people were hanged.

Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain public security and applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are all punishable by death in Iran.

PTI