Washington ( CNN ) -- The State Department condemned Iran 's persecution of religious minorities on Friday following the Iranian authorities ' detention of Baha'is and Christians in recent months . Iranian authorities have detained more than 45 Baha'is in the last four months , and as many as 60 Baha'is are imprisoned in Iran on the basis of their religion beliefs , the State Department said . Iranians have also recently detained more than a dozen Christians , according to the State Department . `` The United States is increasingly concerned about the Iran 's ongoing persecution of Baha'is and other religious minority communities , '' said Philip J. Crowley , assistant secretary for public affairs , in a statement on Friday . The State Department 's condemnation comes a day after it released a human rights report on Iran that blasted the country 's government for abusing religious minorities , among other criticisms . `` Government rhetoric and actions created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups , most notably for Baha'is , as well as for Sunni Muslims , evangelical Christians , and members of the Jewish community , '' Thursday 's report said . Iran is an Islamic Republic where Shia Islam is the state religion . The Iranian government did not respond directly to the State Department on Thursday or Friday . However , Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the West on Friday for ignoring religious principles like monotheism . At a meeting with Iranian intellectuals , `` the president stressed that [ many ] efforts should be made to ... promote justice and support [ a ] campaign against oppressors and help monotheism flourish , '' Iran 's semi-official Fars News Agency reported . Thursday 's State Department report said that Iran 's government prevents Baha'is from gathering in homes to worship and bans Baha'is from public schools , universities , the social pension system and government leadership posts unless they conceal their faith . `` The government repeatedly pressured Baha'is to recant their religious beliefs in exchange for relief from mistreatment , '' the report said . All seven members of Iran 's Baha ' i national leadership body , who were arrested in 2008 , remained in prison at the end of 2009 , according to the report . The Baha ' i faith was founded in Iran in the 19th century . Today , Baha'is are the country 's largest religious minority , with 300,000 members , according to the official Baha ' i Web site . Thursday 's State Department report also accused the Iranian government of destroying a Sufi library and religious hall in Isfahan ; demolishing several Sunni mosques ; and requiring evangelical Christian groups to submit congregation membership lists to the government . The report was part of a broader State Department release of human rights reports on 194 countries .
State Department concerned over Iran 's ongoing persecution of Baha'is , Christians . U.S. report claims Iranian government creates `` threatening atmosphere '' for religious groups . President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad decries West for ignoring monotheism .