Iran Execution Survivor Spared From Second Hanging!

A CONVICTED drug trafficker who survived a botched execution will NOT be hung for a second time.t

NOOSE: The man, known as Alireza M, survived his first execution earlier in the month [GETTY]

Iran has decided to spare the life of a man known only as Alireza M after pressure from both domestic and international rights groups.

Earlier this month the drug offender, 37, was pronounced dead after being left hanging for 12 minutes.

He was taken to the prison morgue as his family prepared to collect him for burial.

However he was discovered to still be breathing and was initially faced with the horrifying prospect of being hung again.

But Iranian authorities have chosen to spare his life with Justice Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi telling the IRNA news agency: "The convict who survived [the death penalty] will not be executed again.

"After putting much effort to prevent the second execution of this convict, we have received a positive response.

Iran has one of the highest rates of state execution in the world with over 500 people put to death last year.

The nation insists the death penalty is necessary to maintain law and order.

Murder, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking are currently all punishable by death.