Iran on Monday hanged in public three men convicted of rape and armed robbery in the eastern city of Zabol, the Fars news agency reported. The report identified the convicts as Baboddin Barkazai, Mohammad Poudineh and Valioallah Meer without giving further details. The latest hangings bring to 159 the number of executions reported in Iran so far this year, 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, ranking the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it put to death. Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran.