"The death sentence against the convicted man (Ehsan Fatahian) was carried out this morning," Ali Akbar Gharoussi said.

The Iranian Kurdish activist "was found guilty of armed action against national security" and "admitted" being a member of the outlawed Komalah Kurdish leftist opposition group, Gharoussi said.

Gharoussi said Fatahian was arrested in possession of weapons.

The western province of Kurdistan is dominated by Sunni Muslims and has seen deadly fighting in recent years between Iranian security forces and PJAK rebels operating out of rear-bases in neighbouring Iraq.

PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) is closely allied with the Turkish Kurdish rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

The latest hanging brings to at least 248 the number of people executed in Iran so far this year, according to an AFP count based on news reports.

In 2008, Iran hanged 246 people, the highest number of executions carried out by any country bar China.