The UN's human rights office says it is "deeply concerned" about the high number of executions in Iran this year.

The Geneva-based office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says at least 80 people have been executed in the past seven weeks, seven of them publicly.

It cites "reliable sources" that the number of executions could be as high as 95.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Friday that most of the executions were for drug-related offences that aren't among the "most serious crimes" for which international law allows the death penalty.

Shamdasani said the global body regretted that the reformist government, which came into office last August, didn't change Iran's approach to the death penalty.

Last year between 500 and 625 people were executed in Iran.

