US Visa for Khatami: The US has decided to issue a visa to former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami to give a speech in Washington next month. “The decision was made,” Sean McCormack, a State Department spokesman said yesterday. “If he does intend to travel to the US for the purposes for which a visa was requested then it is my understanding that the visa will be issued.” Khatami, president from 1997 to 2005, would be the seniormost Iranian to visit the US since diplomatic ties ended in 1979.