Iran has arrested four Iranians accused of involvement
in a U.S.-financed plot aimed at toppling its Islamic
system of government, the judiciary said Tuesday.
The announcement came a week before the inauguration
of Barack Obama as U.S. president. In a shift from George
W. Bush's approach, he has pledged to increase diplomatic
efforts to engage Iran and talk directly to its leaders.
The two countries, which have not had diplomatic relations
for three decades, are embroiled in a long-running row
over Iran's disputed nuclear work, which Washington says
is aimed at making bombs. Tehran denies the charge.
(Article continues below)
Iranian officials often accuse their Western foes of
seeking to undermine the Islamic state through a "soft"
or "velvet revolution" with the help of intellectuals
and others inside the country.
Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said the accused
were arrested in Tehran and their verdicts would be announced
soon.
