(September 17, 2006)--The State Department is putting a "threatening atmosphere" in Iran near the top of a list of global concerns about eroding religious freedoms.

The Bush administration's annual report to Congress says Tehran's already restricted religious liberties are shrinking for nearly all minorities, despite repeated complaints from the UN.

Eight countries, including Iran, are named for particularly severe violations.

The others are Burma, China, Eritrea, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, although those last two are also being given credit for making progress.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she'd like the report to be a "source of encouragement for those whose plight is documented" in it.

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