Iran Says It Has Uncovered U.S.-Backed Coup Plot

TEHRAN (Reuters) -- Iran has arrested four Iranians accused of involvement in a U.S.-backed plot aimed at toppling its Islamic system of government, the judiciary has said.

"One of the goals these individuals were pursuing in Iran was to set up a network to topple the Islamic establishment, all of whose operators have been arrested," judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi told a news conference.

Iranian officials often accuse their Western foes of seeking to undermine the Islamic republic through a "soft" or "velvet revolution."

The judiciary's announcement came a week before Barack Obama takes office as U.S. president.