The head of the Middle East subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives disputed on Wednesday the White House's decision to permit former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to visit the United States for speeches and conferences.

"It is mystifying that we would roll out the red carpet to a person who has incited violence against civilians and who has expressed incendiary rhetoric against the United States and our allies," Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.

In a statement, the senior House member said she was circulating a letter among members of Congress that said Khatami should be treated as a threat to U.S. national security interests and Middle East policy objectives.

Khatami has fueled incitement against the United States and Israel and advocated killing innocent civilians, she said.

The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that it had issued a visa to Khatami to visit Washington.

In addition, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has agreed in principle to meet Khatami when the former Iranian top leader visits the United States starting this week, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Khatami was reportedly to attend a UN conference Sept. 5-6 in New York to promote dialogue, and to speak on religion's role in promoting peace at the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 7.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reiterated on Wednesday there would be no meetings with U.S. officials.

Source: Xinhua