Iran has hanged in prison 3 men convicted of drug smuggling in the northwestern city of Miyandoab, the official IRNA news agency reported Tuesday.

Iran has hanged in prison 3 men convicted of drug smuggling in the northwestern city of Miyandoab, the official IRNA news agency reported Tuesday.

No details were provided on the case.

Possession of more than 30 grams (just over an ounce) of narcotics is punishable by death in Iran, as are murder, rape, armed robbery and adultery.

The latest hangings bring to 113 the number of executions reported in Iran so far in 2011, according to an AFP count based on media and official reports.

Iranian media reported 179 hangings last year. But international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, making the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it put to death.

Iran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.