Iranian authorities have carried out the death sentences of Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi, who were convicted in connection with anti-government protests in the city of Isfahan in January.

Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentences, Iran International reports.

Authorities claimed that the two men were armed and involved in the deaths of four law enforcement and security personnel during the unrest.

A total of 12 people were sentenced to death in connection with the events of January 8 at Isfahan's Alikhani Square.

However, defense lawyer Shahrzad Shahbazi challenged the official account of the investigation. She said the defendants had not been charged with murder and that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the security personnel had not been investigated as part of the proceedings.

The executions have brought renewed attention to the legal proceedings against those detained over the January protests.