Iran has hanged a man in the southwestern city of Ahvaz who was found guilty of carrying out "satanic" and "immoral" acts, Quds Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The man, who was only identified by his initials M.S., was executed in the city's prison on Saturday, the report said without elaborating.

The latest hanging brings the number of executions in Iran to at least 137 so far this year, according to an AFP count based on media reports. At least 270 people were hanged in 2009.

Iran is one of the leading countries that carry out the death penalty each year, along with China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The Islamic republic says the death penalty is essential to maintain public security and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are all punishable by death in Iran.