TEHRAN , Iran ( CNN ) -- Twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in Iran , state TV said . A convicted Iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of Shiraz in September . Iran 's semi-official Fars News Agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . It was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . The Iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . Kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . The statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . The judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . The verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on Sunday . The judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . The statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . According to Amnesty International , Iran executed 317 people last year , second only to China 's 470 . Iran 's government launched a campaign March 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . Police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . Alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . National television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . The wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . Journalist Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report .
Twenty - one convicts were hanged , according to Iranian state media . Convicts were found guilty of murder , rape , armed robbery and other crimes . Judiciary said this should serve as warning to those contemplating crimes .