Tehran's Hamshahri newspaper reported on August 2 that the sentences are related to three separate cases, one involving a woman and two involving men.

The Rokna news agency added in a report that the sentences were due to be carried out "imminently."

In all three cases, the convicted were involved in altercations where a victim ended up losing their sight.

Islamic law adheres to the notion of an "eye for an eye" under the Qisas principle. Victims or their families have the final say in such cases and can stop the punishment.

The implementation of corporal punishment under Islamic law, including lashings, amputations, and blinding, is controversial in Iran, where many citizens have criticized it as inhumane and barbaric.

Such retribution sentences used to be rare but have increased in frequency since 2015.

Human rights groups say the punishments violate international laws and amount to torture and the cruel treatment of those convicted while requiring doctors to administer such procedures violates medical ethical codes.

In the past, Iranian officials have admitted that it has been difficult to find medical professionals willing to carry out punishments.

Amnesty International says the penalties expose "the utter brutality of Iran’s justice system and underlines the Iranian authorities' shocking disregard for basic humanity."

"Meting out cruel and inhuman retribution punishments is not justice," the rights group has said.

With writing and reporting by Ardeshir Tayebl