Iran executed today prisoners Rostam Abbaszadeh and Mehdi Askari over drug-related offences at Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, northern Iran.

The two prisoners were transferred to solitary cells yesterday along with three other prisoners, Hamed Vafaei, Abdolhossein Emami and Seyyed Jalal Hosseini, for the execution of their death sentences.

Abbaszadeh, 45, was a father of two and came from the village of Qezel Kand in Salmas, West Azerbaijan province.

Askari, who comes from Tehran, was sentenced to death over drug-related charges a few years ago.