Amnesty International has warned of an "unprecedented spike" in the number of executions carried out by authorities in Iran since the beginning of the year.
The London-based human rights group said on July 23 that 694 people are thought to have been executed between January 1 and July 15, nearly three times the figure acknowledged by Iranian authorities.
Amnesty International said credible reports suggested at least 743 people were executed in Iran last year.
The rights group said death sentences are being imposed by courts "completely lacking in independence and impartiality."
It said the death penalty is also being imposed “either for vaguely worded or overly broad offenses, or acts that should not be criminalized at all."
"Trials in Iran are deeply flawed, detainees are often denied access to lawyers, and there are inadequate procedures for appeal, pardon, and commutation," Amnesty added.